Deputy who ‘choked’ son till he was unable to breathe and ‘punched him in the face’ loses job, arrested and charged

August 10, 2024 Gloria Shaw

A Florida sheriff’s deputy has been terminated after allegations surfaced that he and his wife were physically and mentally abusing their children, including beating them, keeping them out of school, and even neglecting to provide basic necessities like toothbrushes.

40-year-old Christopher George Turney and his 33-year-old wife, Leandra Childers Turney, were arrested over the weekend and charged with two counts of felony child neglect without great bodily harm and two counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor by failing to ensure their children attended school.

In addition, Christopher Turney faces a further charge of felony cruelty toward children.

The investigation began on July 28 when deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of potential child abuse at a local church. Turneys’ son approached a preacher at the church and disclosed that his father had a history of physical abuse, including an incident where he allegedly “punched him in the face,” according to an affidavit.

The affidavit further details that the boy was hesitant to come forward, fearing that no one would believe him because his father was a law enforcement officer.

The child reported that as recently as July 27, 2024, his father had “choked him out,” leaving him unable to breathe. The boy also claimed to have taken photographs of the bruises and skin irritation caused by his father and offered to provide them as evidence.

During an interview at the Gulf Coast Kid’s House, the boy confided to a forensic psychologist that he would “rather be homeless than return home,” and stated that he endured physical abuse on a weekly basis.

He also revealed that he earned money by doing manual labor, such as mowing lawns, but was forced to hand over his earnings to his father, who claimed the money was needed for groceries and to replace items the boy had broken.

The affidavit also sheds light on the educational neglect within the household. The boy reportedly had not received any formal education since he was adopted in 2017. Similarly, a female juvenile in the home disclosed that she had not attended school in several years, spending only one to two hours a day on schoolwork under the supervision of Leandra Turney, who was often away on business.

The girl told investigators that she was unaware of her current grade level and had never been evaluated by a licensed teacher or taken a yearly assessment test, which is required by state law for homeschooling.

Investigators confirmed that the Turneys had not complied with these educational requirements.

Authorities also noticed that the girl had visible “black decay” on her teeth. When questioned, she revealed that she did not brush her teeth and did not even have a toothbrush. She claimed that her father had told her he was “saving up money” to buy her a new one.

A dental hygienist related to Christopher Turney told investigators that she had not provided any dental care for the family since 2018, but had given them toothbrushes and toothpaste in the past.

Following their arrests, both parents were booked into the Escambia County Jail. Christopher Turney was released after posting a $17,000 bond, while Leandra Turney was released after posting a $14,000 bond.