Fla. Parents Arrested After Father Allegedly Struck Child for Nearly 30 Minutes Over Missing Couch Cushion

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Lance Eugene Rachel is accused of hitting his child "over 50 times with a belt," as well as choking the minor

Two Florida parents have been arrested for charges related to child abuse after a father allegedly beat a minor and the mother failed to intervene or report the incident. 

On Monday, Dec. 16, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office announced the investigation and subsequent arrests of the Kissimmee couple — identified as Lance Eugene Rachel and Kimberly Corene Rachel — after law enforcement and the Florida Department of Children and Families were made aware of the alleged abuse. 

The age and identity of the child was withheld. 

According to the sheriff's office, the alleged incident happened at the family's home on Dec. 7.

"The suspect was angry about a couch cushion being displaced and accused the victim of lying," the sheriff's office alleged. "The suspect maliciously punished the child by screaming obscenities and physically abusing the victim over the course of 28 minutes."

Related: Wisc. Police Officer Accused of Beating, Choking Daughter Because She Wouldn't Take a Nap: Docs

Per the press release, the child was allegedly "struck over 50 times with a belt," and "also choked and called several disparaging names and other obscenities."

As Lance allegedly continued to beat the child, he also threatened to break the victim's jaw, the sheriff's office said.

Related: Maryland Mom Who Appeared to Beat Her Kids in Viral Video Now Faces Abuse and Assault Charges

"Some of the incident was captured on in-home surveillance cameras," the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said, adding that the father allegedly confirmed the abuse when he was questioned by detectives on Monday. 

The sheriff's office said Kimberly was "arrested for failure to report the known child abuse." 

Online records for the Osceola County Corrections and Jail state that Lance was charged with aggravated child abuse and battery by strangulation. 

In a video accompanying the sheriff's office's statement, Lance and Kimberly were seen being escorted from a property in handcuffs.

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"Corporal punishment on your child is one thing, but child abuse and going too far is against the law," Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez said at the end of the video.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.