MOTHER CLAIMS TEENAGE SON MADE UP STORY

THE MOTHER ACCUSED OF POURING BLEACH AND CHLORINE ON HER TODDLER SON AND FORCING OTHER SIBLINGS TO SWIM IN A POOL WHILE STRONG CHEMICALS WERE PRESENT MADE HER FIRST APPEARANCE IN COURT TUESDAY.  THE ATTORNEY FOR 38 YEAR OLD SANDRA FREEMAN TOLD THE JUDGE THAT THE CHARGES AGAINST HER WERE FABRICATED BY A VINDICTIVE OLDER SON.  HOWEVER, A SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DETECTIVE WORKING THE CASE TOLD THE COURT SHE HAS SEEN PHOTOS OF THE TODDLER WITH HEAD INJURIES, BRUISING, FULL BODY RASHES AND BLISTERS ON HIS FEET.  THOSE PHOTOS WERE REPORTEDLY PROVIDED BY THE FATHER OF THE TODDLER, RON WESTROM, WHO IS REPORTEDLY IN A BITTER CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTE WITH FREEMAN.  THE HERALD TRIBUNE REPORTS THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE TODDLER’S LIFE SINCE HE WAS THREE WEEKS OLD AND HAS BEEN TO THE FREEMAN RESIDENCE OVER THIRTY TIMES SINCE SHE MOVED HERE FROM MICHIGAN IN 2008.  JUDGE NANCY DONNELLAN KEPT FREEMAN’S BOND AT $150,000 PENDING AN ARRAIGNMENT HEARING ON AUGUST 12^TH.  FREEMAN’S TWO GIRLS, AGES FIFTEEN AND EIGHT, ALSO CLAIM THE TEENAGE SON MADE UP THE CHARGES.