Two boys from Florida are now facing serious legal issues after their mothers reported them for allegedly causing over $50,000 in damages to their school library.
On September 13, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced that two boys, aged 12 and 13, broke into Friendship Elementary School located in Deltona, Florida. According to deputies, the duo first accessed the campus during the day and then returned later that night to continue their mischief.
Once they were inside, the young boys reportedly went on a rampage, throwing books all over the library, knocking over furniture, and spray-painting graffiti on doors. Investigators noted that the situation worsened when the boys came back to admire their destruction, leading to even more damage and triggering the fire alarm. When deputies arrived in response to the alarm, they discovered the media center of the library completely vandalized and in shambles.
“Overnight, deputies responded to a fire alarm at Friendship Elementary School in Deltona. Upon arrival, they found a glass door had been broken and the media center had been severely damaged,” police stated on social media, sharing body cam footage from one of the responding officers.
Images of damaged property
Photos released by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office showcased the full scale of the devastation, with books strewn across the floor, furniture broken, and property destroyed.
Investigators also provided surveillance footage that captured two suspects entering the library. In the video, one boy is seen wearing a Monster Energy cap, while both had their faces obscured in an effort to hide their identities.
‘Moms turned them in’
After the images were shared online, tips came flooding in – but it was the boys’ own mothers who gave the vital information, recognizing their children and making the tough choice to inform the authorities.
“Their moms turned them in,” the Volusia Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post on September 15, which included mugshots of 12-year-old Felix Cohen Romero and 13-year-old Bentley Ryan Wehrly.
“Following the video’s release, we received numerous emails identifying them (thank you all!), along with contacts from each of the boys’ mothers. The boys admitted to the incident, which resulted in at least $50,000 worth of damage to the media center. They broke into the school during the day and then returned later that evening to assess the damage and inflict more.”
Criminal charges
Each boy is now facing a range of criminal charges, including two counts of burglary, two counts of trespassing on school property, criminal mischief, and theft.
Images of damaged property
Photos released by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office showcased the full scale of the devastation, with books strewn across the floor, furniture broken, and property destroyed.
Investigators also provided surveillance footage that captured two suspects entering the library. In the video, one boy is seen wearing a Monster Energy cap, while both had their faces obscured in an effort to hide their identities.
‘Moms turned them in’
After the images were shared online, tips came flooding in – but it was the boys’ own mothers who gave the vital information, recognizing their children and making the tough choice to inform the authorities.
“Their moms turned them in,” the Volusia Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post on September 15, which included mugshots of 12-year-old Felix Cohen Romero and 13-year-old Bentley Ryan Wehrly.
“Following the video’s release, we received numerous emails identifying them (thank you all!), along with contacts from each of the boys’ mothers. The boys admitted to the incident, which resulted in at least $50,000 worth of damage to the media center. They broke into the school during the day and then returned later that evening to assess the damage and inflict more.”
Criminal charges
Each boy is now facing a range of criminal charges, including two counts of burglary, two counts of trespassing on school property, criminal mischief, and theft.
Another person remarked: “It’s so young to be having a record,” while another added, “Kudos to the moms for turning them in though!”
Clean-up duty
Some went even further, proposing that the pre-teens should be made to clean up the mess they caused as part of their punishment.
“One suggestion was to assign them library repair duties every day, from putting books back on the shelves to cleaning every nook and cranny,” one netizen proposed.
“Another idea was for them to clean it up during school hours so that everyone can witness it,” suggested another.
For the boys, the vandalism has resulted in not just criminal charges but also public scrutiny. Their mothers’ choice to come forward has been praised as an example of tough yet necessary parenting – a reminder that accountability begins at home.
Would you report your child to the police if you found out they had done something similar to these two boys? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this story so we can spark a conversation!
