Police in Leesburg are investigating after three girls have come forward telling police they were raped. The victims, all under 18, live in the same group home together.
A 17-year-old said the incident happened Tuesday, Jan. 20, at a home in the Carver Heights area of Leesburg.
Leesburg police asked that the address of where the alleged incidents took place to not be released in order to protect the privacy of the underage victims.
According to the Leesburg Police Department, the teen told officers she went to the home with a group of males after she and her roommate got into a fight.
According to investigators, when she walked inside, one of the males picked her up and took her to a bedroom where the alleged assault occurred.
The girl then left the home and reported the incident.
On Tuesday, two girls, ages 12 and 15, said they were taken to an abandoned home with a group of males and allegedly raped.
The Florida Department of Children and Families issued a joint statement with the care agency on Tuesday:
When at all possible, children who have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment and cannot safely remain in home are placed with relatives. If relatives are not available to care for them, they are placed in licensed care-foster homes or group homes.
As with any other home, relative, foster and group homes provide supervision and rules based on the children’s age, behavior, maturity, and safety plans. All group homes are licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). DCF is also responsible for conducting investigations into abuse, neglect and abandonment regarding families and facilities.
Group care provider is a group home in good standing. Due to the recent police reports, Kids Central and DCF are assessing the provider and the circumstances surrounding recent events.
[Our] first priority is to ensure the safety of the children under its care and making sure the children receive the help they need.
Investigators are working to find those responsible.