In a heartbreaking incident in Osceola County, Florida, a woman has been charged with aggravated manslaughter following the drowning death of her 5-year-old stepson.
The arrest of 25-year-old Cheyenne Star Fite comes after investigators concluded that her negligence led to the tragic death of Riley Hogeback. According to the arrest warrant, Riley drowned on October 11 after being found in a ditch filled with water on the family’s property. The ditch, reportedly located near a pigpen, contained runoff water contaminated with fecal matter and urine.
During Fite’s first court appearance, a judge confirmed that probable cause for her arrest had been established. “This is an arrest warrant case in which probable cause has already been determined,” stated the judge.
David Hogeback, Riley’s father, shared his grief in an exclusive interview, recalling the last words he heard from his son: ‘We love you.’ He expressed a deep sense of loss and anger, wishing for Fite to face consequences for every day Riley cannot enjoy life.
The property, measuring five acres, features a freshly-turned area of dirt and a small memorial marked by rocks spelling out Riley’s name. The ditch, approximately 10 by 15 feet and seven feet deep, was intended to address flooding issues following Hurricane Milton. At the time of the accident, David Hogeback was at work, leaving Fite in charge of supervising the children.
Fite’s account to detectives suggests she was indoors folding clothes when her daughter alerted her about Riley being underwater. After retrieving him from the ditch and consulting her mother, Fite called 911, but Riley was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was found nude, which Fite attributed to washing his clothes; however, her daughter noted that Riley had been punished by being made to play outside naked after an earlier incident with a chicken.
Further investigation revealed the home environment to be hazardous, with detectives discovering knives, rusted metal, rat and livestock feces, and scrap metal accessible to children. This added to the concerns about Riley’s supervision and safety at the property.
Currently, the Department of Children and Families has taken custody of Fite’s other two children while the situation is being evaluated. Although the agency has not commented on the case, it highlights ongoing issues within the family setting.
Fite is detained without bond, awaiting a forthcoming hearing. David Hogeback continues to cope with immense emotional distress, acknowledging that nothing can replace the loss of his son. “It has cost me a mental breakdown that I am dealing with,” he lamented.
The case underscores the vital need for vigilant supervision and safe environments for children, especially in secluded areas where natural and man-made hazards can coexist. The community and authorities watch closely as the judicial process unfolds.
As the legal proceedings against Cheyenne Star Fite progress, this tragic case serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from lapses in child supervision. The community mourns alongside Riley’s grieving father, seeking both justice and lessons on ensuring child safety.
Source: Abcactionnews
