PANAMA CITY BEACH — A young mother and her boyfriend were arrested for allegedly punishing her 4-year-old son to the point caregivers at his daycare notified authorities of the child’s extensive bruising.
Kaitlin Marie Walsh and Robert McWhorter, both 24 of Panama City Beach, remained in the Bay County Jail as of Friday evening on bonds of $25,000 and $50,000, respectively. Walsh is charged with neglect of a child and McWhorter is charged with aggravated child abuse.
The two were arrested Thursday evening after an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Children and Families found evidence that McWhorter had slapped the child in the face and buttocks, leaving “extensive bruising and scrapes,” according to records. The boy’s injuries were allegedly inflicted the day before at the couple’s home.
The boy told investigators McWhorter caused the bruise on his ear. Walsh initially said the injuries were the result of a rash, but a doctor at the Children’s Advocacy Center said they were the result of multiple blows.
Walsh later admitted that McWhorter caused the injuries as punishment for an unknown offense, but that she felt the punishment was appropriate and she saw no problem with the way the punishment was administered.
McWhorter and Walsh have some traffic infractions but no significant criminal history in Bay County. Their Facebook pages indicate they have been dating about a year.