help

collapse

Press one of the expand buttons to see the full text of an article. Later press collapse to revert to the original form. The buttons below expand or collapse all articles.

expand

collapse

False Reporter Charged

December 30, 2014 permalink

In Florida Jessica Elizabeth Combee has been charged with felonies for filing 28 false reports of child abuse. The state DCF investigated the reports, harassing two targeted families. In a police interview Combee said her motive was “to create havoc.” In most places there is no penalty for false reporting of child abuse, but Florida is an exception.

Let's correct the record. Jessica Combee did not create havoc. Florida DCF did. In a rational system, investigators would soon recognize a deranged reporter and ignore further accusations. Instead, in the current irrational system every report, no matter how clearly delusional, becomes an ordeal for a family.

expand

collapse

HOLMES COUNTY Woman charged with filing 28 false child abuse reports

Jessica Elizabeth Combee
Jessica Elizabeth Combee

A Holmes County woman is facing felony charges after allegedly making dozens of false child abuse claims, according to the Bonifay Police Department.

BPD began investigating in October, after “numerous unfounded reports” of child abuse and/or neglect were filed with the Florida Abuse Registry, alleging abuse in two separate households. The criminal investigation was requested by the local Florida Department of Children and Families Child Protective Investigative Unit.

The reports began in August, with the Registry fielding multiple reports on some days.

DCF provided information that led to subpoenas for records from two internet providers. That information helped identify a suspect: Jessica Elizabeth Combee, 38, of Westville, who, according to law enforcement, has connections to both households that were implicated in the false claims.

Combee was subsequently arrested and charged with 28 counts of “False Report(s) of Child Abuse,” a third-degree felony. She was taken to the Holmes County Jail, where she was held on a $28,000 bond.

In law enforcement’s interview of Combee, she reportedly said her motive for filing the reports was, “to create havoc.”

“This is just one example of how people use the ‘system’ to carry out their agenda against whomever they felt has done them wrong,” Bonifay Police Chief Chris Wells said in the release.

“The time and effort spent by law enforcement and DCF investigating these false reports could have been better used helping others who were really in need. I hope that this case will get the attention of others who might think twice before reporting something they know to be untruthful.”

Wells went on to thank the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance in the investigation and in executing the arrest warrant.

Source: Jackson County Floridan

sequential