Tiffany Lee Griffith, 36, from Fort Myers, Florida, faces charges of aggravated child abuse after allegedly submerging a 6-year-old boy underwater at the Gaylord Palms Hotel pool in Kissimmee on December 19, 2025. The incident stemmed from aggressive splashing involving her nonverbal son with autism and the victim, though security footage confirmed only her actions, not the boy’s prior dunking. She remains in Osceola County Jail without bond as of the latest records.​
Incident Details
Deputies responded around 4:30 p.m. to reports of child battery, where witnesses saw Griffith enter the pool calmly, splash the children, grab the boy by the shoulders, and hold him underwater for 2-4 seconds. The boy exited with a nosebleed and told his parents; Griffith then yelled at the mother before being removed. She claimed she acted to protect her son from being “drowned,” expressed remorse, but footage contradicted her account of the preceding events.​
Legal Status
Griffith is charged under Florida Statute 827.03(2)(a) for aggravated child abuse, with no plea or attorney listed in court records. She was scheduled for a Monday court appearance, potentially rescheduled to Tuesday, but no updates confirm release or outcomes. Inmate records show her booking ID 25010308 and zero bond amount.​
Public Reaction
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office post drew over 3,000 comments, many criticizing parental intervention as “taking the law into your own hands.” Legal experts like Mark NeJame emphasized that physical contact with another child is inappropriate. The case highlights tensions in child play disputes at resorts.
