A 45-year-old Miami father, Luis Roberto Cruz, has been arrested on two counts of child abuse following claims from his daughter, who had been missing for several days. Cruz’s 15-year-old daughter, who was found safe after disappearing from the Model City area, accused her father of physically abusing her, which led to her running away from home.
Cruz was taken into custody on Tuesday, with jail records indicating he faces charges of child abuse with no great bodily harm. His daughter had been missing since April 11, and Cruz had made a public plea for help, expressing fears that someone may have convinced her to leave. He spoke emotionally about his concerns but emphasized his tough disciplinary actions, stating that he loves both his daughter and son despite being firm with them at times.
However, after his daughter was located, she told police she fled due to ongoing abuse from her father. She described an argument with Cruz during which he allegedly punched her in the face two to three times and kicked her in the knee, leaving bruises. She further revealed that this was not the first instance of abuse, claiming that both she and her brother had been frequently beaten by Cruz.
The victim’s brother, 17, corroborated the abuse claims, stating that he had witnessed his sister being harmed and had also been subjected to physical violence by their father. He shared that the last incident of abuse occurred in November 2024 when Cruz allegedly punched him in the face, chest, and legs. He also disclosed that Cruz and their family had instructed him to lie about the abuse if questioned by authorities.
When questioned by investigators, Cruz denied the allegations, claiming that he and his daughter had only engaged in a verbal argument about a potential move to Connecticut. He insisted that he never struck his children with a closed fist and typically punished them by taking away their electronic devices.
Cruz has been booked into jail, with his bond set at $5,000. He appeared before Judge Mindy Glazer on Wednesday, who also ordered him to stay away from his children. The investigation is ongoing.
