The Fort Walton Beach Police Department (FWBPD) responded to a call for service on April 22, 2023, regarding a 2-year-old juvenile left alone in a residence.
- Upon arrival at the scene, patrol officers observed the juvenile through the front window of the residence, slapping the window and appearing dirty with multiple flies on him.
Officers attempted to make contact with anyone at the residence but were unsuccessful, according to the report. As a result, they made the decision to enter the home to assess the situation.
- Inside the residence, officers noted that the room where the juvenile was located had feces on the walls, mounds of soiled diapers, an extreme amount of insect activity, and the bedroom door was locked from the outside.
Realizing the severity of the situation, officers immediately called Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to attend to the juvenile. The child was transported to HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The child was ultimately admitted for further care, according to the FWBPD.
The parents of the child were identified as Tyler Piringer and Diamond Atkinson, both 21 years old and residents of Fort Walton Beach. Six hours after the initial call, Piringer and Atkinson were located and taken into custody with the combined efforts of the Fort Walton Beach Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, Special Investigations Unit, and Patrol Alpha Shift.
Piringer and Atkinson were charged with violation of Florida State Statute (FSS) 827.03 (2a) for Aggravated Child Abuse and FSS 827.03 (2d) for Child Neglect.
