Justice for Wyatt

Hi. My name is Brooke and this go fund me is created for justice for my son, Wyatt.

Wyatt is a 6 year old little boy who was beat in the face by his dad at 4 years old. Wyatt has been diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, among other diagnoses, testing pending for other issues he struggles from as well.

In July 2023, I got a call from his father that he popped Wyatt in the face for mouthing off to his fiancé and it left a red mark under his eye. He said Wyatt had moved and that is why the mark was under the eye. I was upset but I knew we were struggling with behavioral issues with Wyatt and I took it for what it was because he said it was an accident due to Wyatt moving and that it was just a “little red mark”. The next day, I get a message from his dad stating how concerned they are about him and his fiancé getting in trouble for hitting him. I told him again that it wasn’t that big of a deal if it was an accident and just a little red mark due to him moving. The concern grew because he continued to text how he is afraid he will get in trouble and that he would keep Wyatt for a few days so that no one asks questions. I became nervous and alarmed and asked for a picture. He sent me one side of his face and it was the bruising that you see in the first image. I immediately call his fiancé and she expresses him downplaying the situation and that there is bruising on both sides of the face. I leave work and get straight to their house to pick him up from them. I told his fiancé that I would be calling the cops. Cops were called and the investigation started. It took about a month between DCF and police investigation for him to finally be arrested. It was a felony charge of child abuse. He was bonded out immediately the next day. After that, the state of Florida picked up the case to prosecute him. It took over a year for partial “justice” to be served. Wyatt’s dad, Justin Steck, took a plea agreement and was charged with felony of the 3rd degree child abuse and was sentenced to 6 months of county jail (he only had to serve 85% because of good behavior), 2 years of house arrest and 3 years of felony probation. He is also a convicted felon and cannot have contact with my son until his entire sentence is through. He was reprimanded immediately after his arraignment in Sept 2024. However, once his sentence is completed, he is allowed to pursue contact through the courts. That day at the arraignment, I made a promise to him in front of his wife, sister and mother that they would have to pry Wyatt out of my cold, dead fingers before he will ever have access to him again and have the ability to hurt him again. I meant that.

Since that day, I have been fighting the legal system to have his fathers rights terminated. Dcf will not do it because they have already closed the case since the state picked up the charges. An attorney won’t do it unless I have $20,000+ and they are asking for $10,000 in retainer costs to start the case. My husband, who has been in his life since 2 months after the abuse happened, has been by my side raising him. Our ultimate goal is for my husband to adopt him but first, Justin’s rights have to be terminated for the step-parent adoption to be approved. Justin can willingly sign over his rights, but him and his wife refuse to do so.

Creating this page has given me an immense amount of stress because this is not anyone else’s problem and I do not like to ask for handouts. But, I obviously don’t have $20,000+ laying around to give to an attorney and if I don’t advocate for my son, who will?!

I’ve attempted using legal aid but unfortunately, I do not qualify for these services as they are income based.

You can see more about the criminal case against Justin Steck on the Polk County Clerk of Courts.

Anything is appreciated, even just a share! Thank you again!