A St. Petersburg man of 65 years, identified as Lawrence Airdo, has been charged with grievous accusations concerning a child under 12, whom he was familiar with through her family. The case surfaced when the young girl confided in her parents about the alleged abuse, prompting them to immediately reach out to authorities. FOX 13 News reports that after the parents alerted the police on Sunday, an investigation quickly ensued.
Known to the family, Airdo was arrested following the investigation headed by the St. Petersburg Police Department. With a view provided by the department's crimes against children unit, detectives interviewed the young girl and collected corroborative evidence. According to WFLA, Airdo is now facing charges that include sexual battery on a child under the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious molestation by an adult on a child under the age of 12.
The St. Petersburg Police Department publicly announced the charges today, detailing the alleged acts of sexual battery and lewd behavior by Airdo. Investigators had initiated their probe into the matter on November 30 and swiftly moved to take Airdo into custody. The statement obtained by IONTB suggests a diligent effort by law enforcement to address the grave concerns brought forth by the victim's family.
