When proactive care turns into accusation…

Alaina and Samuel Melendez took their baby girl to the hospital due to concerns that she was experiencing pain in her leg. The hospital found an infection and septic arthritis, but also found multiple fractures in multiple stages of healing. Even though there was well documented medical concerns since birth, and clear record of appropriate concern and proactive care by the parents, Alaina was accused of abuse, and Samuel of allowing it. DCF stepped in and took custody of both their children, and now Alaina faces criminal charges.

CASE UPDATE 8/25/26: DCF has now moved away from termination of parental rights and toward reunification for Alaina and Samuel’s family. Yet while DCF is moving toward putting this family back together, the prosecutor is still pursuing criminal charges and potential jail time against Alaina.

This is disgusting and unacceptable. The medical evidence in this case is clear: their daughter had a systemic MSSA infection and suspected septic arthritis, vitamin D deficiency, elevated PTH and other abnormal labs, multiple fractures with no bruising, a family history of unexplained fractures, and an ongoing bone-fragility/metabolic evaluation. There is even a discrepancy over whether the reported rib fractures are actually present. With all of this evidence, the prosecutor is moving forward with perusing jail time for Alaina, and preventing two precious children from growing up with their factually innocent mother. THAT is child abuse. 

Please help Alaina and Samuel fight for their family. Email the prosecutor and her supervisor and ask that the criminal charges against Alaina be dropped. If you can, please consider donating to their GoFundMe to help them continue paying for the legal and medical experts they need to defend themselves and bring their children home.

DCF is moving toward reunifying this family. It is time for the criminal prosecution to end too. Help us stop the child abuse being conducted by the state. 

Support the Melendez family with a direct donation to their legal fund

Email the Florida State Attorney’s listed below. Clicking or tapping the mail link will provide a pre-formatted and addressed email, simply personalize with your name)

Contact List:

• Bruce Bartlett – State Attorney, 6th Judicial Circuit: BruceBartlett@flsa6.gov
• Stacey Sumner – Assistant State Attorney, 6th Judicial Circuit: StaceySumner@flsa6.gov

Template:

Dear [Name],

I am writing to urge your office to dismiss the criminal charges against Alaina Melendez. DCF has moved away from termination of parental rights and toward reunification, yet Alaina continues to face prosecution and the possibility of incarceration despite being factually innocent.

There is substantial medical evidence that disproves the abuse allegation. The baby had a confirmed systemic MSSA infection and suspected septic arthritis, vitamin D deficiency, elevated PTH and other abnormal findings, multiple fractures without documented bruising, and ongoing concerns regarding bone fragility. There is also an imaging discrepancy regarding the reported rib fractures, and the underlying cause of the fractures has not been definitively established.

Please review the complete medical evidence and drop these charges. This family has already endured an extraordinary separation, and continuing to prosecute Alaina while significant medical questions remain unresolved only causes further harm to a family that is now working toward reunification.

Sincerely

[Your name]

The Melendez Family Story

In July of 2025, Alaina and Samuel Melendez welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their family. Early on in her life, she presented with persistent feeding difficulties and excessive fussiness. Her newborn screening had shown that she was a carrier for galactosemia, raising concerns that she may have some metabolic issues.

In September 2025, Alaina noticed that her daughter was not moving her leg very much. She took her to the hospital, where they found MSSA, a systemic infection, and suspected septic arthritis. Both of these conditions are significant and well known to affect bone health. Imaging during the hospital visit showed multiple fractures in multiple stages of healing. DCF was called in and they began a child abuse investigation.

More testing was conducted, and Melendez’s daughter was found to have vitamin D deficiency, elevated parathyroid hormone, evidence of increased bone turnover and metabolic stress, as well as genetic findings that needed further evaluation. There were also no signs of external trauma, like bruising, intracranial injury, or retinal hemorrhaging.

A CT scan was done, and some of the fractures that had been identified on x-ray were not confirmed on the CT scan. Even with all of the abnormal lab findings, along with the infection and metabolic abnormalities, the parents were accused of child abuse and their daughter and son were taken from their custody. A no contact order was put in place and Alaina is not allowed to have contact with her daughter.

A forensic pediatrician, who is also a child abuse pediatrician, has reviewed the records and confirmed this was not child abuse, but rather that there is clear evidence of metabolic bone disease and a diagnosis of bone fragility.

A biochemical geneticist who also reviewed the records confirmed the concern for bone disease, and ordered a full bone fragility and connective tissue panel.

A psychologist has also performed a psychological evaluation and parenting evaluation on Alaina, and found no signs of abusive patterns or behaviors. The psychological report praised her for parenting capabilities and receptiveness to learning.

Alaina and Samuel are facing termination of parental rights, and Alaina is facing criminal charges. Alaina has very limited visitation with her son, and no contact with her daughter. This family has experienced the worst trauma imaginable. We need your help in getting the criminal charges dropped and helping them get reunified.