Florida Man Charged After Ditching His Young Son On The Side Of The Highway Because He Might Be Gay
Koh Mochizuki
WFLA News Channel 8/YouTube
A Florida father abandoned his son on the side of a road with no food, water or cellphone after suspecting he might be gay.
Evenaud Julmeus, 30, faces three counts of negligent child abuse for leaving his son on a highway.
Court records indicated the victim told police his father "became very upset" after allegedly discovering him watching male pornography on his cellphone.
Julmeus instructed his son to pack a duffel bag with clothes and then dumped him in front of a closed police station on the highway.
The age of the boy was redacted from the affidavit, but Haines City police told Fox News the child was a preteen.
The New York Post said a bystander witnessed the incident and called the police.
When authorities showed up, they found the crying boy without food, money or a cellphone.
Before the abandonment, Julmeus told his son that the Haines City Police Department would find him a new home without having contacted law enforcement of his intentions.
The father forced his son out of the idle car in a left turn lane on the highway and drove off.
According to the affidavit, Julmeus left the boy in front of:
"a closed police department with no one around, failing or omitting to provide the victim with care, supervision and services necessary to maintain physical or mental health while also failing to make a reasonable effort to protect the victim from abuse, neglect or exploitation of others."
The boy's mother left her other two sons at home with Julmeus after hearing about what happened and attempted to go look for her other son.
Investigators said by the time police arrived at their home, Julmeus had fled the scene, leaving the two children unsupervised inside the home.
Once again, the recent headline didn't do the sunshine state any favors.
Police said Julmeus turned himself in and remains in custody.
For parents who wish to foster communication with their child, the book This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids: A Question & Answer Guide to Everyday Life (Book for Parents of Queer Children, Coming Out to Parents and Family) is available here.