Toddler ‘Purple’ After Dad Left Her Outside In Hurricane Irma: Police

JASPER, FL — The father of a 19-month-old toddler left to fend for herself in Hurricane Irma’s howling winds and stinging rains has been arrested on felony child cruelty charges. The little girl’s skin had turned purple after weathering the storm overnight, and she was covered with bug bites and scratches when a passerby found her about 11:30 a.m. Monday, investigators said.

The child was taken to a nearby hospital and was released Tuesday. Her father, Angelo Mitchell, 36, a felon convicted on domestic abuse charges in 2011, remains in the county jail on felony child abuse charges, according to a report by Tallahassee television station WCTV. Investigators with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said they believe Mitchell was high on alcohol or drugs and couldn’t remember where the girl was.

The toddler’s mother reported her daughter missing early Monday morning, telling police that Mitchell had left her home with the girl about 11 p.m. Sunday but didn’t have her with him when he returned to her house about two hours later, according to an arrest report. (Stay up-to-date on hurricane and other news in your community by signing up for real-time news alerts and free morning newsletters. Find your Florida Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Tracking dogs were deployed, but were unable to locate the little girl early Monday, , but Mitchell was taken into custody at the time. Police said he smelled of alcohol and admitted to having several drinks.

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