A family trip to a Central Florida resort pool turned into a criminal case after deputies say a mother held a 6-year-old boy underwater, leaving him with a nosebleed and visible injuries. Investigators allege the woman, identified as Tiffany Lee Griffith, targeted the child in apparent retaliation for an earlier poolside clash involving her own son. She is now charged with aggravated child abuse, a felony, and faces strict court-ordered limits on contact with the boy and his family while the case moves forward.
The incident unfolded at a high-end hotel pool in the Kissimmee area, a region better known for theme parks and sprawling resorts than violent crime. Yet the allegations, captured in part on surveillance video and relayed by multiple witnesses, have renewed questions about safety at crowded resort pools and about how quickly bystanders and staff intervene when rough play crosses the line into potential abuse.
What Deputies Say Happened At The Resort Pool
According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a report of a battery involving a child at a resort pool in Kissimmee, in the heart of Central Florida. Witnesses told investigators that a woman became enraged after a splashing match between children and then grabbed a 6-year-old boy who was not her son. They said she forced the child under the water for several seconds, long enough that he emerged with a bloody nose and complained of pain, according to accounts summarized in Florida police reports.
Investigators say the confrontation happened at the sprawling water complex of The Gaylord Palms, a resort that features multiple pools and slides and draws families from across the country. Deputies later described the incident as an intentional act, not an accident during play, and classified the case as aggravated child abuse after reviewing Surveillance footage that appears to show a person pushing the boy under the surface. The resort, identified as the Gaylord Palms and the Gaylord Palms Resort, has been contacted for comment but, according to The Gaylord Palms coverage, had not publicly responded.
The Accused Mother, The Charges, And The Video Evidence
Deputies identified the suspect as Tiffany Lee Griffith, a 36-year-old mother from Fort Myers. Reports describe Tiffany Griffith as a former law enforcement officer, with one account noting that a woman accused of holding a 6-year-old boy underwater at a Central Florida pool is a former police officer. Another report, shared widely on social media, states that Tiffany Lee Gri is a former cop who could face jail time if convicted.
Authorities say Griffith was arrested after witnesses at the pool described her grabbing the boy and forcing him under the water, a sequence that appears to be corroborated by Surveillance video. One national account reports that Florida police say the child suffered a nosebleed after being dunked. Another detailed summary notes that witnesses told authorities Griffith acted after a splashing match involving her autistic son and the victim.
From Arrest To Bond: How The Case Is Moving Through The Courts
After her arrest, Griffith was booked into the Osceola County Jail on a charge of aggravated child abuse, a serious felony that can carry a lengthy prison term. One report notes that On Dec. 20 a judge ordered Griffith not to have any contact with the victim or the victim’s family. Another account from Osceola County emphasizes that a woman arrested for allegedly dunking a child underwater at an Osceola County resort pool was initially held without bond before being granted release under conditions.
Court coverage describes Griffith as a Fla. mom who allegedly acted in revenge for what she believed the boy had done to her son, while another report from Central Florida notes that a woman in Central is behind bars on allegations she held a child underwater in a hotel pool. A separate broadcast segment from Osceola County notes that a 36-year-old Tiffany Gri was out of jail after being granted bond, while another video report from the same county confirms that a woman arrested for allegedly dunking a boy in an Oyola County resort pool was later released from custody.
More from Decluttering Mom:
