Ormond Beach man arrested for cruel punishment on child victims

Date Added: July 24, 2026 4:15 pm

Volusia Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested 42-year-old William Conner, of Ormond Beach, for putting two child victims – ages 12 and 14 – through heinous punishment and other cruel mistreatment to include forcing one to stay in a locked laundry room.

The 12-year-old boy, who was Conner’s main target, was deprived of food and water and forced to stay in a detached laundry room that had no A/C, running water or bathroom access, leaving him to use a bucket. Additionally, the boy said Conner fed him food contaminated with animal feces and gave him water mixed with urine. When the boy learned what he ate, he vomited. Conner laughed. The boy said Conner would hit him with a studded belt, electronic cords and plastic spatulas.

P.O.S. Conner would monitor the laundry room with a camera and on some occasions would force the boy to stay awake all night, using the two-way audio to torment him if he fell asleep. The 14-year-old female victim would sometimes be subjected to the same. 

The victims are no longer in Conner’s custody. 

The DCF case was referred to VSO in May of this year and detectives determined there was probable cause to charge Conner with two counts of child abuse and two counts of child neglect. Additionally, 33-year-old Samantha Lucas is charged with two counts of child neglect.

Conner and Lucas were arrested yesterday and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail, where they've already bonded out.