A Florida man who was nabbed for horrifically abusing his stepson — thanks to a fast-acting waitress — has been sentenced to life in prison.
Timothy Lee Wilson, 36, was found guilty of false imprisonment, aggravated child abuse and child neglect in June, after Flaviane Carvalho, a server at a Mrs. Potato restaurant in Orlando, noticed that he didn’t order the boy food on New Year’s Day — and that the child was covered with scratches.
Carvalho quickly wrote a note reading “Do you need help?” and flashed it to the then-11-year-old victim — while standing behind his oblivious parents.
Florida Judge Wayne C. Wooten condemned Timothy Lee Wilson’s child abuse. FOX 35 Orlando
Restaurant server Flaviane Carvalho wrote a quick note asking if a 11-year-old boy was in danger. Orlando Police
Timothy Lee Wilson was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of child abuse. Orange County Jail
The boy nodded and Carvalho called police.
“I’m super concerned and I don’t know what to do, can you give me some advice?” Carvalho asked a dispatcher, according to WFLA.
An investigation found that the child had been subjected to torture and neglect by Wilson and his mother, Kristin Swann.
The abuse included being hung upside down from a door on Christmas Day and handcuffed to a dolly, authorities said.
Wilson was hit with several life terms in an Orlando courtroom on Friday.
Swann was also charged with neglect and her case is still pending.
Officials lauded Carvalho’s vigilance after Wilson’s arrest.
“We probably would’ve been talking about a potential homicide investigation if she [Carvalho] had not intervened when she did,” Orlando Chief of Police Orlando Rolón said at the time.
Timothy Lee Wilson appears in court. FOX 35 Orlando
Kristin Swann was charged with neglecting her child. Orange County Jail
Authorities praised restaurant server Flaviane Carvalho for helping an 11-year-old child seek help. GoFundMeThe act of heroism quickly went viral and donors raised nearly $50,000 for Carvalho on a GoFundMe page.
