‘Moms turned them in’

After the images were posted online, tips quickly poured in – but it was the boys’ own mothers who provided the crucial leads, recognizing their children and making the difficult decision to alert authorities.

“Their moms turned them in,” Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced in a Sept. 15 Facebook post that included mugshots of 12-year-old Felix Cohen Romero and 13-year-old Bentley Ryan Wehrly.

“After the video posted, we received lots of emails identifying them (thank you all!), as well as contacts from each of the defendants’ mothers. The boys confessed to the incident, which caused at least $50,000 in damage to the media center. They broke into the school during the daytime hours, then returned later in the evening to look at the damage and cause more.”

Criminal charges

Each boy now faces a slate of criminal charges, including two counts of burglary, two counts of trespassing on school grounds, criminal mischief and theft.

Authorities have not yet confirmed how the case will proceed through the juvenile justice system, but the seriousness of the damage means both could be facing significant legal consequences.

Moms praised

The shocking case has sparked widespread reaction online, particularly because the boys’ own mothers were the ones who held them accountable. Many praised the women for making what must have been an incredibly difficult choice.

“Great job moms!!! I’m sure that was incredibly hard, but it was the right thing to do. Helping them learn about consequences is the hardest part of being a parent,” one person wrote in the comment section of the Facebook post.

A second wrote, “Thank you moms for seeing your child needs to see the world doesn’t revolve around them and there [are] consequences to their actions! I know it was probably hard…”

Another added: “So young to be having a record,” another said. “Good job on the moms for turning them in though!”

Clean-up duty

Others went further, suggesting the pre-teens should be required to clean up the damage themselves as part of their punishment.

“Assign them the library repair every day to clean up their mess from putting books back on the shelves to cleaning every nook and corner,” suggested one netizen.

“They should have to go clean it up during school hours so everyone can see,” another suggested.

For the boys, the vandalism has brought not only criminal charges but also public scrutiny. Their mothers’ decision to step forward has been hailed as an example of tough but necessary parenting – a reminder that accountability starts at home.

Would you turn your kid into cops if you knew they had done something like these two boys? Please share your thoughts with us and then share this story so we can get the conversation going!