Southpinellas: St. Petersburg woman bound and beat boy, police say

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St. Petersburg woman bound and beat boy, police say

By Leonora Lapeter Anton, Times Staff Writer
Published February 17, 2008

Laura Etta Robinson, 57, was charged with false imprisonment and aggravated child abuse.

ST. PETERSBURG -- Police say Laura Etta Robinson, a 57-year-old retiree from St. Petersburg, dragged an 8-year-old boy out of his bed one night last week, tied him up and flogged him over the course of at least three hours.

Robinson of 3932 11th Ave. S was charged Friday with false imprisonment and aggravated child abuse. She remained in the Pinellas County Jail on Saturday with bail set at $120,000.

According to a St. Petersburg Police Department report:

Robinson went to the boy as he was in bed sleeping, wrapped his wrists in duct tape and dragged him into the living room. She tied his arms to a heavy coffee table with a bungee cord and placed duct tape around his legs.

She laid him face-down with his pajama pants down on top of an empty plastic trash bag so his urine wouldn't reach the carpet. Then she hit his behind over and over with what police described as a "long, black flexible object."

"As she was beating him, she rested in between, alternating from striking hard -- soft -- then harder and harder," the police report said. "As she was beating him, she repeated 'obey, obey' over and over again."

The incident reportedly occurred from about 11 p.m. Feb. 7 to 2 a.m. Feb. 8. The report did not provide the 8-year-old's relationship to Robinson.

The boy suffered injuries, the report said, but did not require medical treatment. The report also said police did not contact the Department of Children and Families for a child abuse or neglect investigation.

[Last modified February 16, 2008, 23:15:55]

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by Lisa	03/04/08 08:29 PM
I do believe that if you "spare the rod you spoil the child", but this is too much. What could have been so bad that an 8 year old child had to be gotten out of bed. Anger management comes to mind.

by Lisa	03/04/08 08:25 PM
to me there is a difference between beating and spanking. This was beating. If you care for a child you do not beat them you spank or discipline them. I feel that this was extreme. The boy doesn't have physical injuries but what of the mental ones.

by amy	03/03/08 05:23 PM
wasn't there a another story about a boy who was given everything and traveled the world only to end up in prison? this child is lucky his grandma cares. some kids nowadays really do deserve the rod. rather him be spanked than him robbing me.

by chris	03/03/08 10:15 AM
why didnt the cops call dcf?

by C	02/26/08 10:11 AM
How can anyone think that she is a loving person??? Anyone who can do this to a child for any reason is anything but loving!! Discipline yes, beating no. Obviously this person has issues of her own to deal with and shouldn't be caring for any child!

by salley	02/21/08 12:08 PM
I've known this family for a very longtime. I ask that you keep them in your prayers. Remember, there is always 2 sides to a story. So lets not start making accusations if you do not know what happened. Ms. Robinson is a very loving & caring person.

by T	02/18/08 02:46 PM
Mario - I'm glad you don't agree with this but it appalls me that you could even "understand." It is hard to be a parent, as a mom I get pushed to the end of my rope, but NEVER would I beat my child! Nothing that child could have done excuses this.

by pretty black	02/18/08 01:23 PM
u all don't know the whole story. beat his behind while he's in the play pin, so he won't end up in the state pin. it is very hard to discipline your own children. the system and the children are totally out of control. get them some help!

by mario	02/17/08 06:48 PM
Pray for the Robinson family I've known this family all my life. Somebody needs help.Pray for the child and his recovery. So much pressure raising kids! This is not needed. I understand but dont agree. Sometimes parents snap it's hard.

by kt	02/17/08 02:11 PM
Is anyone tring to help this grandmother raise the kid.

by LC	02/17/08 12:57 PM
How did she get caught? Why didn't police call DCF? Why don't you report the WHOLE story, then finish it?

by p	02/17/08 12:35 PM
you waste time on plenty of petty things but didn't report this to the DCF..our children SHOULD NOT have to go through this and people like her DO NOT deserve to even exist..keep her pathetic a-- is jail and get DCF involved!!!

by Charles	02/17/08 09:14 AM
What??? St. Pete police didn't contact DCF for an abuse or neglect investigation? Now that's what I call service!!! Protect the criminals Baker and Harmon or else, right??? Another great day in St. Pete for everyone, especially the kid!

by Cathie	02/17/08 09:00 AM
And why did they NOT contact DCF for a child abuse investigation? Let the punishment fit the crime, tie her down like she did the child and flog her like she did the child, then tell her to obey the laws that prohibit the abuse she heaped upon him.

by paul	02/17/08 08:45 AM
DO THE SAME TO HER!

by LF	02/17/08 07:59 AM
Finish the story! How did the police find out about it? Why wasn't DCF contacted?

by MamaM	02/17/08 05:47 AM
Flog her happy hiney! I feel abusers should have the same done to them. "Do unto others"....What a lousey, rotten, unhuman she is! I hope she is put in general population in jail!!!!

by RE	02/17/08 05:21 AM
She needs to be put away for a LONG time...and it's good the cops didn't contatct DCF...they would ahve really screwed things up for the boy. I wish him a speedy recovery and a getting on with life!