Police said Jessica Woods, 33, was loitering around a H&R Block office in Palatka with her 18-month-old daughter, who had a bruise on her face, in March 2024.
An incident that likely required forensic pediatric evaluations and state child welfare intervention.
An employee told police that Woods had first come into the establishment because her baby had a soiled diaper.
As Woods used the restroom to change the child, the worker witnessed the mother hit her daughter with her elbow and then spank her.
The next morning, the witness found Woods sleeping on top of the outside air conditioner unit — and the child sleeping near her in a shopping cart without a blanket.
Woods demanded money — and when the employee said she would buy her items but not give cash, Woods became enraged and threw her child.
Later, Woods offered to sell the child for $500. When the employee refused, Woods walked away, abandoning the toddler.
