BROOKSVILLE, FL – On May 25, 2020, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office received information about a missing juvenile from New York who was possibly in Hernando County. At the time, the 15-year-old juvenile was last seen at his home in New York the previous day. The juvenile’s mother reported she received a text from her son on the 25th indicating he was in a gated community by the name of either “Brooksville” or “Brookridge.”
A friend of the juvenile advised police in New York that the juvenile paid money for a person to drive him to Florida to meet a female he met online. The friend described the female, later identified as Kelley Gaudette, 32, as a woman in her thirties with long brown hair and a 9-year-old child.
On May 26, 2020, Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies were able to locate the missing juvenile at a residence on Scepter Avenue in Brooksville. The woman living at the residence matched the description given by the juvenile’s friend. Initially, Gaudette denied knowing of the missing juvenile’s whereabouts but eventually went into the house and had the juvenile come to the door to speak to the deputy.
Upon speaking to the juvenile, the deputy noted the teen appeared to have hickeys on his neck. The juvenile indicated the marks were from a barstool hitting him in the neck. The juvenile advised Gaudette paid a friend to drive him to Florida. He also indicated Gaudette bought him a cell phone so they could communicate.
An investigation revealed the juvenile met Gaudette two months prior via an online chatroom for depression. The juvenile indicated he was trying to get away from a verbally abusive family situation. The juvenile further stated he had permission from his mother to be in Florida.
The juvenile denied having a sexual relationship with Gaudette. The juvenile’s mother indicated her son suffers from mental illness and did not have access to his medication. The mother further said she was aware of her son communicating with an older woman online and told her son it was unacceptable.
The investigation revealed Gaudette believed the juvenile was considering self-harm due to his situation, so she offered him a place to stay and paid a friend to drive him to Florida. Gaudette indicated she viewed the juvenile as a son and denied any inappropriate contact. Gaudette advised she believed the juvenile’s mother gave him permission to be in Florida. The juvenile was removed from the residence and taken to a facility until his mother could pick him up.
On June 18, 2020, deputies made contact with the juvenile’s mother who indicated she found disturbing messages between her son and Gaudette. The mother indicated the messages revealed her son and Gaudette were in a romantic relationship, which she provided to law enforcement.
On July 29, 2020, the mother contacted law enforcement again about nude images and videos she found of Gaudette on a thumb drive belonging to her son. This evidence was also provided to law enforcement.
On March 05, 2021, detectives in Hernando County received a recorded interview with the juvenile conducted by authorities in New York. The juvenile advised Gaudette sent him nude photos and videos of herself via an online app. Upon arrival at Gaudette’s residence, the juvenile advised they engaged in sexual relations.
On March 29, 2021, detectives questioned Gaudette again. Gaudette continued to deny any inappropriate contact with the juvenile. When confronted with the evidence collected, Gaudette requested an attorney. She was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a victim older than 12 but less than 16 years of age, principle to traveling to meet a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and transmission of harmful materials to a minor using an electronic device. She was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center where her bond was set at $19,000.
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