UPDATE: ARRESTED: Suspect Sought In Child Abuse Case; 3-Year-Old Girl Beaten, Put In Oven

Date Added: January 24, 2018 10:09 am

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

***UPDATE -- 7:50 p.m. Thursday, 1/25: Wanted child abuse suspect Terry May has turned himself in at the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he'll be held on $50,000 bond.***

SUSPECT SOUGHT IN CHILD ABUSE CASE; 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL BEATEN, PUT IN OVEN

A DeLand man is wanted on a charge of child abuse in a case where the victim, a 3-year-old girl, suffered several injuries and disclosed that she was put into an oven.

Volusia County sheriff’s detectives are looking for 45-year-old Terry L. May (DOB 3/23/1972) of Lenox Court in DeLand. The child abuse charge against him carries a $50,000 bond.

On Thursday, a deputy responded to the victim’s home to meet with her and an investigator with the state Department of Children and Families. The girl reported that May frequently hit her with a belt. She had several noticeable injuries, including an extensive abrasion on her ear, several contusions and swelling on the top of her head and forehead, a 6-inch scar on her back, abrasions and lacerations on her feet, hands and leg.

The ear abrasion appeared to be consistent with a burn injury. After a medical examination, the victim told the DCF investigator that May had put her in the oven.

Attempts to locate May were not immediately successful, and deputies are actively looking for him.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood designated May as the “SCUMBAG of the Week” and urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Sheriff’s Office. Call 386-248-1777 to reach the VCSO Communications Center or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS or westopcrime.com.