HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A 38-year-old man is behind bars after a months-long investigation into the “unimaginable harm” inflicted upon a seven-month-old infant in his care.
Robert Weatherholt was arrested on March 27, 2026, and faces a charge of Aggravated Child Abuse following a series of medical evaluations that contradicted his version of events.
The case first landed on the desks of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on January 18, 2026. At that time, the infant was found to have suffered life-altering injuries, including a brain bleed and a spinal injury.
According to investigators, Weatherholt was the primary caregiver when the injuries occurred. However, as detectives worked alongside medical professionals to piece together what happened, they found that Weatherholt’s explanation simply didn’t match the physical evidence of the child’s trauma.
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Sheriff Chad Chronister addressed the gravity of the case following the arrest, noting the breach of trust involved in the incident.
“This child was placed in the care of someone expected to protect them, and instead, they suffered unimaginable harm,” Sheriff Chronister said. He credited the persistent efforts of his team for the breakthrough in the case, adding, “Thanks to the tireless work of our detectives over months of investigation, we are one step closer to justice for this child, and this individual will face the full extent of the law.”
Weatherholt was taken into custody without further incident and is currently being held as the legal process moves forward.
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