The parents of a severely malnourished 9-year-old boy ,who was found badly beaten and naked in the middle of a North Miami Beach street, were released on bond earlier this month, according to a court official.
Marsee Strong, 34, was released on $65,000 bond and Edward Bernard Bailey, 40, was released on $60,000, the corrections department said.
The boy appeared to be a "much younger child," according to the report.
He was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital North, where it was discovered he weighed a mere 35 pounds, about the size of a normal 2-year-old, the report said.
Strong and Bailey were arrested Jan. 30 but both denied physically abusing the child, the arrest report said. Strong admitted to failing to protect her child from others and not properly supervising him or getting him medical treatment in a timely manner, the report said.
Bailey admitted to allowing others to beat the child without his intervention, according to the report.
"He also knows that his child is in need of help, but felt helpless to do anything about it," the report said.
Florida Department of Children and Families spokeswoman Lissette Valdes-Valle said they are investigating the incident and have a history with the family.
The parents last appeared in court on Wednesday.
Their next hearing will be on Feb. 22, according to the corrections department.
