A mother has been accused of forcing her 11-year-old daughter into grotesque sexual acts, including bestiality with the family’s pet dog, all captured on video for a stranger’s twisted pleasure. If convicted, the woman has been warned she could even face the death penalty.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, of Pinellas County in Florida, laid out the details during a press conference on Tuesday, calling it “one of the most horrific acts of child exploitation we’ve ever seen.” The alleged abuse took place in the family’s home this spring. Between March and April 2025, the 35-year-old woman allegedly directed her young daughter to pose provocatively and perform explicit sex acts on camera.
Some videos showed the mother abusing the child herself; others involved the family dog in acts of bestiality.
Mr Gualtieri said: “During March and April of this year, the mother created at least 14 videos of her 11-year-old daughter posing at the mother’s direction and engaging in various sex acts, including bestiality with the family dog.”
The mother’s confession to detectives confirmed her involvement. She admitted forcing the acts and distributing the material, acts that Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described as “graphic and grotesque”.
These acts amounted to sexual battery, or rape, he emphasised. Given the victim’s age, the charges qualify as capital offences, eligible for the death penalty.
Mr Gualtieri continued: “These acts constitute sexual battery or, as commonly referred to, rape, and because of the child’s age, the mother’s crimes are capital offences punishable by death.”
The investigation began last Friday (October 10), when tips led deputies to a 38-year-old man, suspected of hoarding child pornography and luring children for sex.
Digital forensics traced the files back to the mother’s phone. A search warrant at the St. Petersburg home uncovered the evidence, with the girl found safe but traumatised.
The father, who lived in the same house, appeared unaware of the abuse, and investigators cleared him after interviews. No evidence implicates the girl’s sibling.
On Monday, deputies arrested the mother and booked her into Pinellas County Jail on 41 felony counts: four counts of capital sexual battery, 13 counts of transmitting child pornography, 13 counts of sexual performance by a child, three counts of sexual activity with animals, four counts of aggravated child abuse, three counts of lewd molestation, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
In court on Tuesday, a judge issued a no-contact order with the victim and appointed a public defender. Bond was denied for the most serious charges.
The man faces his own felony charges, including possession of child pornography and travelling to meet a minor for sex; investigators continue to examine his case.
Mr Gualtieri noted: “A lot of times in these cases, there is somebody in the chain someplace that does profit off of it,” adding that additional warrants for devices have been executed or are pending.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 84 predators on more than 900 child pornography charges since January 2025 and described the problem as “out of control.”
The girl has been placed with the Department of Children and Families for support, and child advocates are assisting her father, who attended the hearing and prayed quietly throughout.
Mr Gualtieri concluded: “This is nuts, I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s ruining kids’ lives.”