Abuse Allegedly Observed During Department of Homeland Security Investigation. Claim: Women Didn’t Help Child.
Caterina Best (left) and Amanda Hunter (right), Courtesy Palm Beach County Jail.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
DELRAY BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Two Delray Beach women are facing “child neglect” charges as part of a multi-year investigation by the Department of Homeland Security that revealed a girl in their care was abused. Pictures and videos of the abuse, according to an arrest report, were uploaded to the internet and distributed as child pornography.
BocaNewsNow.com is providing only selective details due the graphic nature of the allegations. While both Caterina Best and Amanda Hunter are accused of neglect, they are not accused of perpetrating the abuse that resulted in an an 18-month-hold needing emergency treatment at St. Mary’s Medical Center due to severe bleeding from her midsection.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, both Hunter and Best were connected to an unnamed subject who was the target of a Department of Homeland Security investigation. When DHS moved in to nab the suspect, they allegedly found the 18-month-old girl seriously injured. Investigators allege that the girl was found in a crib — and near pillows — that were identical to a crib and pillows seen in explicit video online. The girl’s injuries, according tp the arrest report, were consistent with injuries seen in an extreme sexual assault. Both her front — and rear — were injured. Blood and blood clots were both found.
The victim’s current location and custody situation is unclear. She is presumably no longer in the care of Hunter or Best. Both women were arrested on January 31st and taken into custody. The investigation began prior to February of 2020.
BocaNewsNow.com does not know — at this time — who is accused of the actual abuse. The involvement of the Department of Homeland Security suggests that the person may be in federal custody on unrelated charges. Both Best and Hunter posted $5,000 bond. They both list a home in 5300 block of Jog Road as their shared home address.
