Four-year-old Kristina Hepp had a shy little smile and was well liked among her pre-kindergarten classmates at Trenton Elementary School. She was very sweet, her teacher said, and always well behaved.
Kristina’s sudden death on Monday morning and the subsequent arrest of her father has left the community in shock, and cast a dismal gloom over what would have been a carefree spring break from school.
“I just don’t understand how this could have happened,” said Ashley Hines, one of Kristina’s pre-kindergarten teachers. “She was the sweetest little girl.”
Kristina’s father, Matthew G. Roland, 23, of Waccasassa, is being held on $750,000 bail after being arrested and charged with the brutal death of his daughter. Roland has been charged with a felony count of aggravated child abuse and a felony count of aggravated manslaughter of a child.
According to Major Tony Smith of the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, Roland was granted temporary custody of his daughter four months ago, and she has since been living with him and his girlfriend in a mobile home in Waccasassa.
An incident report filed by Investigator Tracy Taylor of the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office indicates that a 911 call from Roland came in to the Sheriff’s Office at 5:33 a.m. on Monday.
Roland told the dispatcher that his daughter was not breathing. He also said that she had been having trouble breathing for the past hour.
When EMS arrived on scene they found Kristina lying on the living room floor. According to EMT James Campbell, the child was unresponsive, not breathing, and had no pulse.
According to Investigator Taylor, the child had significant bruising to her forehead, left eye and cheek. She indicated that Kristina’s left eye was sunken in, indicating possible broken bones around the eye socket. The child also had fresh and old bruises on her thighs and fresh bruises on her upper arms and shoulder areas. Two deep scratches and bloody circular marks were found on Kristina’s lower back.
Medical Examiner Martha Burt, M.D., responded to the scene and pronounced the child deceased. In addition to the injuries noted by Investigator Taylor, Dr. Burt observed that the child’s upper lip was torn on the inside of her mouth where it attaches to the gum. Dr. Burt also observed bruising on the child’s leg that visually matched the size and shape of an electric hair straightener that was found in the bathroom. Blood was observed in the bathroom sink, and a patch of hair with a piece of scalp tissue attached was in the bathtub drain.
According to Dr. Burt, Kristina’s injuries amounted to great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.
When interviewed by investigators from the Sheriff’s Officers, Roland said that he had “got into it” with the child the night before and that he had “spanked” her. Later, Roland stated that he had disciplined the child by striking her with a belt on Sunday afternoon.
Roland’s girlfriend, Chelci Folds, said that Roland picked her up from work on Sunday afternoon around 4:15 and Kristina was in her car seat in the vehicle. Folds said she noticed bruising to the child’s eye and that Kristina seemed sleepy and did not appear “right.” Folds explained that when they got home, Kristina did not want supper, so she was put to bed.
Investigator Taylor said that at some point during the night, the child reportedly had difficulty breathing and Roland attempted to give her a nebulizer treatment.
Later Sunday evening, Folds said the child was lethargic.
At no time was Kristina taken to a doctor, or hospital, nor was help summoned.
Instead, Roland put the child in bed with himself and his girlfriend.
Folds said that at some point during the night Kristina soiled the bed and Roland took her to her own bed. Folds then said that she was later awakened by Roland, who had Kristina in his arms.
At that time, Roland told Folds that Kristina was not breathing. Folds said she accompanied Roland into the living room where they laid the child on the floor and attempted to give the child another nebulizer treatment before attempting CPR. After attempting CPR, Roland finally called 911.
EMT Campbell said he observed what appeared to be dark vomit on the child’s bed and on her shirt. In addition to the child’s bruises and injuries, he also observed dried blood in the child’s mouth and bloody fluid in one of her ears.
Dr. Burt said that Kristina’s injuries were survivable if she had received timely medical attention. Therefore, Investigator Taylor surmised that Roland’s failure to seek medical help for his daughter shows a reckless disregard for her life and safety.
“When the defendant [Roland] failed to obtain medical treatment for his daughter, she died from her injuries,” Investigator Taylor stated.
At press time an autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Gainesville.
A criminal history check from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement showed Roland has an extensive criminal history, which includes arrests by the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, Trenton Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol.
As a juvenile Roland was charged with both arson and burglary of a dwelling, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia on separate occasions.
Over the last five years he has been charged numerous times with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Just last year Roland was arrested on March 16 by the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office and charged with battery.