Gared Wayne Canales told his daughter to kill herself, deputies said. (Mugshot: Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies announced on Monday that they had arrested a man wanted for allegedly telling his 13-year-old daughter to kill herself, which led to the victim cutting himself several nights and then one day swallowing 14 Benadryl tablets in an attempt to put end his own life, authorities said in the arrest affidavit against 33-year-old Gared Wayne Canales.
The documents are dated April 12, but the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in Florida announced his arrest on Monday. Canales was found in Massachusetts and is now in Flagler County Jail for child abuse without grievous bodily harm and misdemeanor violation of probation, authorities said.
Canales was already on probation after pleading no contest to violating a domestic violence injunction. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison, credited with 13 days behind bars on October 18, 2021, and also had to serve a year of probation. Records from October 5, 2022 showed he allegedly violated his probation by not complying with orders such as enrolling in a domestic violence intervention program, staying away from the victim in this case (regarding an incident of November 26, 2021), and pay the $28 supervision fee to Judicial Correctional Services.
In the heavily redacted arrest affidavit, deputies said they were sent on April 12 after the child, identified in reports as Canales’ 13-year-old daughter, attempted suicide.
Canales allegedly subjected her to horrific verbal abuse on April 7.
“You kill yourself,” he told the victim over the phone, according to documents. “Do not say anything.”
“[Redacted] was further informed that Gared had said [redacted] she was pregnant and worthless,” documents say. “[Redacted] said that [redacted] is constantly verbally abused by her father. [Redacted] said on Sunday, while cleaning up after the Easter fun, [redacted] grabbed her brother’s baseball bat and snapped a portrait of her and Gared.
Documents describe a person, whose identity is redacted, saying “she was going to cut herself and go further to get her father’s attention”.
“[Redacted] advised that [redacted] also has text messages with Gared expressing his feelings,” the affidavit reads.
On April 7, Gared insulted the child, saying, “Bitch, bitch, fuck you,” according to documents.
“[Redacted] told him she was telling him how she felt about him, and Gared said, “You’re not worth it. Either way, I choose my girlfriend over you, and kill you,” the documents read.
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A person, whose name is redacted from the affidavit but who is apparently Canales’ daughter, said she inflicted minor cuts on her arm several nights in a row. It peaked on April 10, when she took 14 Benadryl pills, documents show.
[Redacted] said she attempted suicide because her father said he was going to kill himself,” the documents state.
Canales, who is currently being held without bond, is due to appear in court on August 7. He has not yet pleaded guilty.
The Public Defender’s Office, which represents Canales, did not immediately respond to Law&Crime’s request for comment.
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