Teen Arrested for Child Abuse in Union County | Gainesville News

Gainesville News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 21, 2026 · 1m

A chilling case in Union County has shocked the community: a 16-year-old faces adult charges for horrific sexual battery and aggravated child abuse against a victim under 12. The teen allegedly took the child to an abandoned trailer, abused him, and stuffed him into a wedding dress bag—claiming he wasn’t “himself” and planned to return later. The victim vanished during a birthday party on May 20th, and was found naked by the teen’s own mother. The detective called it “willful torture.” The case has been moved to adult court, with the teen held without bond. Authorities are withholding many…