Man Arrested After Toddler Found With Multiple Bite Marks

TARPON SPRINGS, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff's detectives have arrested a Tarpon Springs man after children under his supervision were found to have multiple bite marks.

Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit arrested Rashawn Davis, 29, Thursday night after he was accused of intentionally biting two children, ages 2 and 3, leaving permanent scarring.

According to detectives, the abuse, which took place in a home in Tarpon Springs, began in June and continued into August when all four of 25-year-old Andrea Fulton's children, ages 1 year to 6 years, were removed from the home due to domestic violence problems with her Davis.

Davis is the biological father of the 1-year-old.

When the children were removed, three of the children were placed in foster care and one child was placed with a family member. Detectives launched their investigation Aug. 20 when the children were examined by medical personnel who found multiple bite marks and long linear scars on two of the children.

Detectives were told by medical staff that the 2-year-old boy had more than 35 laceration marks on his back and eight bite marks on his back, buttocks and cheek. The 3-year-old boy was found to have one bite mark on his buttocks.

Detectives obtained dental impressions of Fulton and Davis' teeth and a forensic odonatologist excluded Fulton, but not Davis. The forensic odonatologist confirmed the bite marks were not accidental and said the force used to leave the marks was significant.

On Thursday, Dec. 13, detectives interviewed Davis at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office in Largo and he admitted to biting the 2-year-old multiple times out of frustration.

Detectives also interviewed Fulton who admitted to knowing about the bite marks and not seeking care for her children.

Detectives arrested both. Davis is charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse with great bodily harm. Fulton was charged with two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm.

The children remain in either foster care or with family.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff

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