CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – Karina Fortune, 32, of Beverly Hills, has been sentenced to 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to aggravated child abuse. The sentencing followed a pretrial detention hearing held on Friday, April 11, stemming from her arrest earlier this month.
The case originated on March 22, when the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a report of a potentially missing or abducted 13-month-old child. The child’s grandmother informed authorities that she had left the infant in Fortune’s care. Upon the child’s return, the grandmother was shocked to find the infant’s face and body covered in makeup, initially causing her to believe the child was not her grandchild.
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Subsequent investigation revealed the makeup was applied to conceal severe physical injuries sustained by the infant. A medical examination confirmed the horrific extent of the abuse, revealing extensive bruising, burn marks, a broken arm, a fractured collarbone, and severe dehydration.
During the investigation, Fortune provided multiple inconsistent and false statements regarding the timeline of events while she had custody of the child. Detective Levi Garrison’s persistent investigation led to a confession in which Fortune admitted to stepping on the child’s body, feeding the child scalding-hot formula, and attempting to conceal the injuries out of fear of discovery.
“This is a very disturbing and tragic case of child abuse, and it’s great to hear that the victim is now in a safe, loving environment and recovering,” stated Special Victims Detective Levi Garrison. “The timeline provided outlines a series of events that show the escalation of the abuse and the defendant’s attempts to evade responsibility.”
Detective Garrison also expressed gratitude to the various agencies involved in the case, including the Department of Children and Families, the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, Assistant State Attorney Yeager, Jessie’s Place, responding deputies, and medical professionals for their crucial roles in ensuring the victim’s safety and well-being.
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