2-Year-Old Florida Girl Critical After Being Sexually Abused And Brutally Beaten By Caregiver

A two-year-old Florida toddler was in a critical condition after she was brutally beaten and sexually abused by her caretaker.

According to the press release, officials with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in North Fort Myers Wednesday (April 29) after receiving information that a child was unresponsive. The officers found the caregiver, later identified as 25-year-old Nicholas Stephen Canfield, attempting lifesaving measures on the toddler. The officers immediately rushed the toddler to a local hospital for treatment. Medical staff informed the officers that “there were indications of recent sexual abuse, as well as fresh bruises, swelling and other forms of physical trauma.”

Following this, the caregiver was detained for questioning. Following the interrogation, he was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses including Capital Sexual Battery and Aggravated Child Abuse.

Speaking about the incident, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said, “Only the lowest form of life would do this to a child. I will do everything in my power to make sure that this predator never has an opportunity to abuse anyone again. I’ve said it before…I have zero-tolerance for any type of abuse.”

As of Thursday (April 30) evening, the toddler remained in critical condition “with an extremely poor prognosis.”

“The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is working cohesively with the Office of the State Attorney as of this investigation advances,” the press release said. No additional information was available.

The incident comes a few days after a Pennsylvania toddler died after he was beaten and sexually abused by his mother's boyfriend. Police found the two-year-old boy unresponsive at his home and rushed him to a local hospital where he succumbed to severe injuries. Investigation revealed that the toddler had suffered fractured skull and injuries to his mouth and eyes after he was brutally beaten by his mother’s boyfriend, Keith Lilly Jr. Doctors confirmed that the boy was physically abused on more than one occasion. Medical tests indicated that the toddler was also sexually abused. Following this, the accused was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children.