Man, 24, indicted on abuse charges

Dominic Waddy of Spring Hill turned himself in. His brother has said that whatever happened to Waddy's daughter must have been accidental.

By KATHERINE BLOK

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 3, 2000

BROOKSVILLE -- A grand jury has indicted the father of a 1-year-old girl, who has been in critical condition since May, on a charge of aggravated child abuse.

Dominic Lamine Waddy, 24, of Spring Hill, turned himself in to sheriff's detectives at the Hernando County Jail on Wednesday.

Waddy is accused of abusing his daughter, Destiny, who was 10 months old at the time of the incident. The girl's injuries have been described by the Sheriff's Office only as "very, very serious."

On May 5, Spring Hill Fire and Rescue crews responded to a 911 call from Waddy, who said his daughter was not breathing. They had been alone in their home at 2491 Landover Blvd. in Spring Hill.

Destiny was resuscitated and flown to Bayfront Medical Center before being transferred to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.

The Sheriff's Office and state prosecutors would not release any other details of the investigation Wednesday evening.

Records show Waddy has no criminal convictions in Florida and has never before been charged with a crime in Hernando County. He is being held at the Hernando County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

In June, Waddy's brother, Willie Waddy, said he thinks whatever happened had to have been an accident.

"He wouldn't do anything to hurt her," he said. "He's a great father; his kids are his heart."

Willie Waddy said his brother was in the process of trying to get sole custody of Destiny from his ex-girlfriend. He has two other children: a 3-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy, by another woman, he added.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.