PALATKA, FL — A multi-month child abuse investigation spanning three northeast Florida counties has culminated in the arrest of a 23-year-old mother who investigators say fabricated stories and framed innocent bystanders to conceal a horrific pattern of physical abuse against her infant child.
Hunter Deeann Miller, of San Mateo, was arrested following a warrant issued by Judge Washington. She faces first-degree felony charges of aggravated child abuse.
A Web of Deception Across Three Counties
The complex investigation began in November 2025 when Miller brought her child—who was less than a year old—to an emergency room in St. Johns County with a freshly broken arm. Miller told hospital staff and responding St. Johns County deputies that the injury was accidental, claiming she watched another individual accidentally drop the infant onto the floor during a Thanksgiving visit at a home in Palm Coast.
Because the home was located in Palm Coast, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office transferred the initial file to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Flagler detectives executed a search warrant for the home’s internal security cameras. The footage completely debunked Miller’s story, proving the infant was never dropped and never fell while inside the residence.
In January 2026, jurisdiction of the case was transferred once more, landing with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office after digital tracking and physical timelines placed the locations of the ongoing abuse within Putnam County lines.
Medical Records Reveal Ten Distinct Fractures
As Putnam County detectives dug into the family’s history, the child’s biological father uncovered and provided a hidden cache of past medical reports.
A comprehensive forensic medical evaluation of the infant’s historical X-rays and medical records delivered a grim diagnosis: the baby had sustained at least 10 separate skeletal fractures over its short life—averaging more than one bone fracture per month since birth.
Armed with the forensic medical timeline, detectives officially cleared the individual Miller had tried to blame for the Thanksgiving injury. In fact, medical analysts proved that multiple fractures had already healed before that person had ever even met the infant.
Sheriff Slams Suspect and Enablers
Following her arrest, Miller was booked into the Putnam County Jail. She was subsequently released after posting a $50,000 bond, under strict, court-ordered conditions that she have absolutely no unsupervised contact with minor children.
Putnam County Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach did not mince words regarding Miller’s active deception and the people who attempted to help her cover it up:
“This case was full of deception and lies by the suspect in order to protect herself. She pointed fingers at innocent people to disrupt their lives in a pattern that became all too familiar for her. Sorting through those lies took time to ensure we got her away from the lives of the helpless she sought to destroy. The sad part of all of this is some people sought to protect her over this child. All I can say is — shame on them.”