Florida Woman Arrested for Illegally Sheltering Missing Foster Teen
In a bizarre twist that could easily be mistaken for a dramatic storyline in a reality show, a 61-year-old Florida woman, Sherry Novelli, is facing serious legal trouble after allegedly hiding a missing teen from a local foster home. The wild saga began when the teen, who had been living at Crossroads Hope Academy in Punta Gorda, went missing on February 10. Initially granted permission to visit a park, the boy’s absence sent staff scrambling to locate him when he didn’t return.
What makes this tale even wilder? Novelli, a volunteer at the Academy, wasn’t just trying to be the “cool aunt” figure. According to authorities, she reportedly provided the boy with an array of not-so-wholesome goodies—including alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana—while attempting to establish herself as a potential adoptive parent. This raises a lot of eyebrows, especially considering that the teen had earlier been cautioned about her inappropriate interactions, leading to her being banned from contacting the students.
Sheriff Bill Prummell didn’t hold back in his assessment of Novelli’s choices, calling her actions a “series of poor choices” that only complicated the lives of youths already struggling. “This is not a ‘motherly’ thing to do; it’s harmful,” he stated, shining a light on the precarious nature of foster-care dynamics in Florida, where children often face significant challenges.
The drama didn’t stop there. After an extensive investigation that revealed Novelli even went as far as purchasing the teen a phone and opening a bank account for him, police eventually located the teen sitting in her car while she was at a dental appointment, talk about a weird ride-along! While Novelli has since been released on bond, the incident underscores ongoing issues within Florida’s foster care system, including the struggles of kids trying to navigate their circumstances.
So where does this leave the teen? That remains uncertain. This case provides a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that foster children face and the importance of safeguarding their well-being.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and People Magazine, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office
