Toddler wearing soiled diaper found in insect-infected car while parents used drugs

DeLand, FL-The parents of a two-year-old girl were arrested after police say she was found in a hot, insect-infected car with the suspects while at least one of them allegedly did drugs.

An officer spotted the car Tuesday, parked near the tree line of a DeLand, FL park. The officer saw the parents and a small child inside.

The child’s parents, 30-year-old David Dexter and 28-year-old Christian Wilson, were arrested after police found opioids, needles and drug paraphernalia in the car and in Wilson’s purse.

Police say the temperature outside was 104 degrees. The two-year-old child was not wearing close-toed shoes and could have stepped on a needle.

The child was wearing a soiled diaper that sagged to her knees and had numerous scabs on her legs and an open wound on her neck that had drawn small insects.

The backseat of the car was covered with insects including roaches, and was filled with open and spoiled food containers, dirty diapers, and soiled clothing.

"It's unconscionable that someone would let their child be in those sort of conditions,” said Chris Graham, a spokesman for DeLand Police.

Dexter told police he drove the child and Wilson to illegally purchase the opioids but denied injecting himself. He also said the child’s neck injury came from bumping into a person with a lit cigarette.

Wilson and Dexter were both charged with felony child abuse, and multiple drug charges.

The child was medically cleared and turned over to a family member.