Food Withheld From Boy By St. Pete Mother And Boyfriend: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Authorities have arrested a St. Petersburg couple for child neglect and child abuse of a 6-year-old boy. The child's mother and her boyfriend withheld food from him as a form of punishment, and then covered the bruises and scars from ongoing abuse with makeup or tattoos, police said.

Investigators with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office found out from a medical examination team that the child suffered multiple injuries, and had permanent scars on his body from four years of physical abuse, said a news release. Police said 26-year-old Samantha Smith and her boyfriend, 31-year-old Cody Corbin, physically abused the boy by pinching his genitals, beating him with objects, biting his shoulders and toes, and punching and kicking him.

To hide the bruises and injuries caused by the abuse, Smith placed makeup and temporary tattoos over the child's wounds.

The investigation of the abuse began on May 14, and officers arrested Smith and Corbin on June 5 at an undisclosed location in St. Pete. They were taken to the Pinellas County Jail.

Smith was charged with aggravated child abuse with great bodily harm and child neglect.

Corbin was charged with child abuse and child neglect.