EAGLE LAKE, FL – A Polk County mother has been sentenced to two decades in prison after pleading guilty to systematically abusing her young son, who drowned in a locked, unlit bathroom last year. Alize Seymore, 25, faced a judge Monday and received 20 years in state prison following a plea deal on child abuse charges related to the death of 6-year-old Anthony Rouse.
The tragedy came to light last April, when emergency responders raced to a home in Eagle Lake after reports a child had been found unresponsive in a bathtub. Authorities discovered Anthony submerged and lifeless in the water. The boy was rushed to a Tampa hospital, but, after two days on life support without any signs of brain activity, he was declared dead.
Investigators quickly uncovered a pattern of prolonged and severe mistreatment inflicted on the boy. According to court documents, Seymore admitted that she forced Anthony to bathe after he had urinated on himself, locking him alone inside the dark bathroom, which lacked power and windows. Seymore claimed she returned 20 minutes later, after a period of scrolling through TikTok, and discovered her son facedown in the tub.
Further examination of the home and electronic devices revealed a chilling dynamic. Text messages exchanged between Seymore and her husband, Tre Seymore, described locking Anthony in a cage as punishment for minor misbehavior, such as taking food without permission. One message indicated that Anthony was locked up after being caught with noodles; another depicted Seymore expressing intense animosity toward her son.
Incriminating videos coupled with texts over several weeks illustrated a household where Anthony was singled out for abuse, locked up, and deprived of food, while other children were allegedly encouraged to participate in or witness mistreatment. Authorities said both adults would instruct siblings to assault Anthony, sometimes offering rewards like candy or food for compliance.
The psychological impact on the household extended beyond Anthony. Authorities reported that, following the boy’s death, one of his siblings initially gave false information due to threats from Seymore. Eventually, the child revealed that Tre Seymore would refer to torturous punishment as “swimming,” a euphemism for forcibly drowning Anthony by holding his head underwater.
As details surfaced, prosecutors brought numerous charges ranging from first-degree murder to tampering with a witness and aggravated manslaughter of a child against Alize Seymore. She ultimately reached an agreement with the state, pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated child abuse. Seymore was ordered to serve the 20-year sentences concurrently rather than consecutively.
Tre Seymore was previously sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to second-degree murder and related charges. His cooperation in testifying against his wife was a factor in his plea agreement and sentencing.
The case highlighted harrowing neglect and cruelty in the home, with investigators describing ongoing abuse, deprivation, and punitive measures that culminated in Anthony’s death. Authorities detailed that the bathroom where Anthony died had intentionally disabled electricity, leaving the space in total darkness.
Officials said that, despite evidence of physical and emotional trauma inflicted by both adults, other children in the home were used as unwitting participants in the cycle of abuse. Evidence suggested repeated directions to confine Anthony or inflict harm at the instruction of Seymore.
The death of Anthony Rouse and the subsequent investigation have underlined the challenges in detecting and preventing long-term abuse within families. Both Alize and Tre Seymore remain in state custody, serving their respective sentences for their roles in the child’s death.