Law enforcement stumbled onto a heartbreaking scene in a hotel room at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
The parents of two minor children were passed out, severely intoxicated on the bed. The husband had hit his wife in the face, and their children witnessed the violence, authorities said.
Robert and Janine Pecha, of Staten Island, New York, were arrested for third-degree felony child neglect while Robert was also charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, according to Orange Circuit Court records.
Florida Department of Children and Families intervened to take custody of the 5-year-old and 3-year-old since there were no other family or friends nearby, their arrest report said.
The Pechas do not have an attorney listed in court records.
Their arrest happened on February 21. WDWNT is writing about it now because it took weeks for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to release public records.
The couple, married for 12 years, did not have a previously known history of domestic violence, the sheriff’s office said in the report.
When the sheriff’s department arrived, the couple was passed out on the bed. In the bathroom was a paper shopping bag filled with empty alcohol cans and bottles.
“I tapped and shook both of their legs and called out for them to wake up. Attempts were initially unsuccessful, however with repeated attempts, both subjects began to wake up. It was evident that both Robert and Janine were heavily intoxicated. They had slow responses to verbal questions, slurred speech, and had difficulty walking or standing,” the deputy wrote in the arrest report. “Janine at one point nearly fell over in the bathroom due to her intoxication. Robert and Janine were asked what was going on, and they both replied nothing. I asked how much alcohol they each had consumed. Robert stated one drink, and Janine was adamant that she had consumed no alcohol. They were unaware of how intoxicated they were.”
The couple claimed they hadn’t fought, but the children told law enforcement what happened. Their parents had been drinking all day and then got into an argument about Robert not spending enough time with the family. The altercation escalated. One little girl said her father hit her mother “several times in the face with an open hand,” the arrest report said.
The children said again and again, “No, Daddy,” the report said.
Janine was taken to the emergency room for her intoxication. Robert was also treated at the hospital. They were both taken to jail afterward.
Janine did not have an attorney listed in court records but Robert did. WDWNT reached out for comment but has not heard back.
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