(February 6, 2025) — On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, just after 10 AM, officers with the Cape Coral Police Department arrested Kelly Rita Perrigo (DOB 05/22/1962) for Felony Child Neglect.
On September 15, 2024, officers responded to a home in NW Cape Coral. The reporting party said her child has several medical conditions that require 24/7 medical care, so they have home healthcare nurses at the residence 24/7. She said they usually have day and night nurses, and all nurses work 12-hour shifts. On the morning of September 14, 2024, the reporting party said she talked to the night nurse, Kelly Perrigo. Perrigo told her the child had low blood sugar and drank all of their nighttime bottles. After Perrigo left the residence, the reporting party reviewed surveillance cameras in the child’s room. She saw that throughout the night, Perrigo would heat the child’s bottle and attempt to feed the child for about 2-5 minutes, then put the child in the crib and leave the room with the full bottle. On the kitchen surveillance camera, Perrigo was seen placing an empty bottle in the sink. The reporting party believed Perrigo would empty the bottle in the bathroom sink before going into the kitchen. Looking through surveillance video, the reporting party noticed Perrigo wasn’t feeding the child any of their bottles since August 17.
The reporting party said since Perrigo started caring for her child last February, the child has had issues with gaining weight, lack of energy, and has fallen into liver failure. She also said if the child doesn’t drink the bottles, nurses are instructed to feed the child through a GI tube, which was never seen on surveillance. It should be noted that Perrigo is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Officers reviewed the footage, which corroborated the reporting party\’s claims. DCF was notified and took a report. The Special Victims Unit took over the investigation, and on February 5, Perrigo came to the Cape Coral Police Department and was arrested.
Kelly Rita Perrigo (DOB 05/22/1962) was taken to the Lee County Jail on the following charge:
–1 count in violation of F.S.S. 827.03(2)(d), Felony Child Neglect
Arrested: Kelly Rita Perrigo (DOB 05/22/1962)