Tallahassee couple arrested in death of 5-year-old daughter amid evidence of horrific abuse
May 20, 2025
A Tallahassee couple was arrested on charges involving the death of their 5-year-old daughter after she was found unresponsive at home amid physical signs and video evidence of horrific abuse. Daniel Allen Spencer, 35, the victim's stepfather, and Chloe Spencer, 23, her mother, were arrested May 19 on charges of aggravated battery of a child, child neglect with great bodily harm and failing to report suspected child abuse in the death of the little girl, Melissa Mogle.
Police were called to the home around 7:44 a.m. Monday, May 19, Her grandfather was performing CPR on her when officers arrived; she was taken to a hospital al lahassee Memorial HealthCare and pronounced dead a short time later.
The Spencers told officers that the little girl had “tantrums” and held her breath to manipulate them. Daniel Spencer, who was “arguing” with the child before her death, said when she began to hold her breath, he closed the door on her and walked away. He said he later found her “unresponsive” and alerted the rest of the family.
“Officers on scene noted suspicious bruising and injury patterns to Melissa, which indicated abuse,” the arrest reports say. “There are documented incidents of abuse to Chloe at the hands of Daniel.”
The reports say Daniel Spencer was investigated in July 2024 after he was accused of sexually abusing the girl. However, probable cause could not be established and he was not arrested.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence and seized an SD card from a surveillance video camera that was in the little girl’s room along with a tablet belonging to the defendant, according to the arrest reports. “Evidence reviewed from the SD card at this time depicts hours of Daniel physically abusing Melissa by hitting her, violently pulling her arms, shoving her face into a bed, binding her feet and hands together, and covering her with pillows and comforters,” the report says. “Throughout the video footage, Daniel is seen wiping sweat from his face. Daniel’s shirt is also seen wet from him sweating.”
Missy's mother and grandfather lived in the home and did not report abuse.
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3/31 2026
Gov. Ron DeSantis called on the Florida House to impeach Leon Circuit Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper during the signing in Tampa of “Missy’s Law,” le
gislation that was prompted by the murder of a 5-year-old Tallahassee girl. Missy's tragic life story has unfolded in the pages of the Tallahassee Democrat for months. Her death sparked an outpouring of grief in Florida’s capital city and raised questions about how the state’s child welfare system, the courts, police and others might have failed to protect her.
Missy's family, including her maternal grandparents, Pepper and Andy Mogle raised her for the first years or her life, stood beside the governor as he signed the law.
Melissa "Missy" Mogle died May 19, 2025, after losing consciousness at her home. She was rushed to the hospital with telltale signs all over her body of severe child abuse, from cuts and bruises to ligature and burn marks. Her stepfather, Daniel Spencer, 36, and her mother, Chloe Spencer, 24, were later indicted on first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and other charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against both of them.
The Tallahassee Police Department, in consultation with the State Attorney's Office, and DCF had investigated allegations that stepfather Daniel Spencer molested Missy. At the time of her death, he was free on bond following his conviction just one month earlier in an unrelated underage sex sting. The prosecutor asked the judge to remand Spencer to jail while he awaited sentencing, but she refused.
Gov. DeSantis said. "This was an outrage, This was such an easy call to make sure that this guy was put behind bars. And this judge refused to do it, knowing the risks, and the result has obviously been a tragedy." He added “totally preventable” and called the judge’s handling of her stepfather’s case “a miscarriage of justice” and a “dereliction of judicial duty.” "The Florida House of Representatives has the power, and sufficient numbers in your chamber to impeach this judge, Tiffany Baker. Until you start holding these judges accountable, they are going to continue finding ways to benefit the criminal element.”
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