"Are You Okay?" The Quick Thinking of a US Restaurant Worker Who Rescued an Abused Child

[Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Amid public outrage over the recent death of a 16-month-old child due to abuse by adoptive parents in the 'Jeong-in case,' a story from the United States has attracted attention where a child-abusing parent was caught thanks to the quick thinking of an employee.

According to foreign media including the New York Post on the 14th (local time), Flavienne Cavallo, an employee at a restaurant in Orlando, USA, noticed something unusual while serving customers on the 1st.

A couple in their 30s, appearing to be husband and wife, came to the restaurant with their young son but only ordered two meals for themselves and did not order any food for the child.

Finding this strange, Cavallo began to observe the family closely. She noticed that the boy's arms were covered with bruises and that he was very thin compared to children his age.

Cavallo immediately wrote "Are you okay?" on a piece of paper and held it up so only the child could see. The child, secretly reading the message without the parents noticing, shook his head, and Cavallo then wrote "Do you need help?" on the paper and asked again.

The child answered "Yes" in a small voice, and Cavallo immediately reported it to the police. Upon arrival, the police found signs of abuse such as bruises on the child's body and promptly arrested the parents.

Police investigation revealed that the child was 11 years old, and the couple accompanying him were his adoptive father (34) and biological mother (31).

The adoptive father was found to have regularly abused the child using a broom, his bare fists, furniture, and even tied him up to prevent movement. The mother, who was present, had known about this but neglected to intervene for a long time.

The police charged the adoptive father with child abuse and the mother with child neglect.

Cavallo, who used her quick thinking to save the child, said, "As a mother raising a child myself, I found it strange that they didn’t order food for the child, so I kept watching closely," adding, "I’m relieved that the child can now be safely protected."