A grisly scene unfolded in Palm Beach County earlier this week when a woman was accused of stabbing her young daughter over 20 times. According to CBS12 News, Roshawn Gatlin, 27, was arrested following the incident that took place on Monday.
Deputies said they responded to a call and found the child with multiple stab wounds. Gatlin, the child's mother, placed the 911 call herself. Upon arrival at the scene, neighbors described a disturbing image of Gatlin, “When I came around the corner, she was sitting on the floor on the sidewalk. She was in handcuffs, and she wasn’t saying anything. She didn’t have any reaction. She was just looking at the floor like she was just lost." Another neighbor recounted to CBS12 News, "They took the woman out, handcuffed her from behind, and threw her to the ground. Then we were shocked because it's something we can't believe."
The WPBF reports that when deputies arrived at the home, the father showed them surveillance footage which allegedly captured Gatlin taking a large knife from the kitchen before the attack. Despite the severity of her injuries, the child is currently in stable condition and is expected to recover.
Gatlin now faces attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon (domestic). She is being held without bail and has been ordered by the court to not have contact with minor children or with witnesses. Jannifer Diaz, a licensed therapist and Palm Beach County Victim Services Program Manager, emphasized the importance of community vigilance in such situations to CBS12 News: "For us, as a community we need to come together and say ‘okay we need to stop this. We need to do something about it." Counselors urge anyone who suspects child abuse to report it immediately, reminding the public that in Florida, it's a legal and moral obligation to do so. Palm Beach County Victim Services offers free counseling to support early intervention efforts. For those in need of assistance, the service can be reached at (561) 822-7273.
