Gainesville woman arrested for failing to treat children’s skin conditions

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Latasha Cheree Neal, 35, has been charged with two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm after allegedly failing to treat her twins’ serious skin conditions for over a year.

The case was reported to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) by the Gainesville Child Protection Team after a medical exam of the three-year-old twins on September 13, 2025; the arrest report states that Neal only took the children to a doctor because the Department of Children and Families became involved.

Both children were seen by a doctor in March 2024 and diagnosed with severe cases of eczema; the children were referred to a dermatologist and an immediate appointment was made, but Neal allegedly never showed up and did not reschedule the appointment.

A doctor told an ASO detective that the eczema now covers the whole bodies of both children, with blistering and bleeding; their skin is breaking down; the condition appears to be changing the pigment of at least one child’s skin; and there will be permanent scarring. Both children reportedly have infections on their faces. The doctor said this would have been treatable when the condition was diagnosed and, if treated, it would not be as severe as it is now. The doctor also reportedly said these were the worst cases of eczema she has ever seen.

Neal was interviewed on October 3, and when asked whether she knew why she was there, she reportedly said, “Because someone called DCF on me.” She reportedly said she was getting prescription creams every month for the children from the UF Health Family Medicine practice on NE Waldo Road, and she admitted that she had forgotten about the dermatologist appointment and did not reschedule it.

The detective reported that medical staff reviewed the children’s medical records and said that Neal had not actually gotten the prescription creams for her children or taken them to any medical appointments until DCF became involved.

The detective concluded that Neal had willfully refused to provide her children with medical treatment that was considered to be essential for their well-being, leading to discomfort, infections, skin changes, permanent scarring, and disfigurement from a condition that is routinely treated.

Neal has been charged with two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm. She has three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent). Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $40,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.