DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — A Deerfield Beach woman is facing two felony charges after authorities said she subjected her 8-year-old stepdaughter to severe torture that left her with bruises, swelling and multiple fractures.
According to arrest documents made public on Tuesday, a concerned elementary school counselor called the Broward Sheriff’s Office on Thursday after seeing the second-grader come in “with two black eyes, a large contusion on her forehead, dried blood coming from her ears and multiple scratches on her arms and neck.”
Deputies said the girl told her counselor that her stepmother, Melirose Joncky, had inflicted the severe injuries, further saying that an arm injury for which she was in a cast was also caused by the 42-year-old.
According to a BSO arrest report, the girl told investigators that on Wednesday, Joncky “pushed her down to the ground, pulled her by her feet, and forced her onto her stomach” and while on the ground, “walked on her back, jumping up and down, causing her pain.”
Joncky, deputies said, then “grabbed the back of her head and slammed it into the floor, causing a large abrasion to her forehead.”
According to the report, the girl additionally said that Joncky “had used phone chargers to hit her, which she explained were the cause of the multiple lacerations on her arm, legs, back and face.”
The girl also told investigators that her stepmother “choked her to the point she was unable to breathe” and “has used a kitchen knife and a pot to hit her on her head.“
“Another form of punishment was to force an entire bottle of hot sauce into her mouth, as well as a mouthful of salt,” BSO Detective Vanessa Encina wrote in the report.
The girl was taken to Coral Springs Medical Center and later Broward Health Medical Center for treatment, deputies said. Doctors determined she suffered fractures to her ribs, as well as fractures on one of her arms and feet. According to the report, they also found scalp hematomas, a “large contusion to the forehead” and neck swelling.
Deputies said a forensic medical examination found “ligature marks consistent with a phone cord,” as well as marks near the girl’s genitals.
According to the report, the girl told detectives that Joncky would “scratch her” on her pubic area and “pour hot sauce on her injuries.”
Deputies arrested Joncky on aggravated child abuse and child neglect charges on Thursday.
On Friday, she appeared in Broward County court with the assistance of a Haitian Creole translator. Prosecutors asked her to be held without bond.
A prosecutor noted that Joncky “admitted to the detective that she was aware of all the injuries the victim was suffering when she dropped her off” at school.
Her attorney asked the judge to grant a bond “so that she can fight this case from the outside.”
“She made it clear that she’s denying these allegations,” her attorney said. “She’s innocent.”
The judge ultimately ordered Joncky held without bond.
“I’ve never read anything like this,” the judge said. “Based upon what’s alleged in (the report), I’ve got serious concerns for the safety of the victim.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, online records show that she remained locked up in the BSO Main Jail.
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