Ormond father accused of telling Palm Coast daughter to kill herself found not guilty

A jury found a father accused of telling his juvenile daughter to kill herself not guilty of felony child abuse.

Gared Wayne Canales, 34, faced up to five years in prison on the third-degree felony.

The jury took just 15 minutes to reach the not guilty verdict March 12, said Canales’ defense attorney Kip Miller.

Canales listed an Ormond-by-the-Sea residence and went on trial at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell. The girl lived in Palm Coast.

Canales was accused of making the statements to his then 13-year-old daughter during an April 7, 2023, phone call.

Canales took the stand during the trial and denied telling his daughter to commit suicide, Miller said. He also denied making any other inappropriate statements to his daughter, Miller said.

Miller also called an investigator for the Department of Children and Families who testified that the investigation found that allegations of mental injury to the child were unfounded.

The girl took the stand and testified that her father did tell her to commit suicide. But Miller said she also testified that she was upset that her father had a new girlfriend and was not spending as much time with her. The girl also testified she still had an enjoyable birthday weekend.

Miller said Canales is an Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient from an injury he suffered when a Humvee he was riding in was hit by an IED during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“He was very happy with the outcome,” Miller said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida father accused of telling daughter to kill herself not guilty