John Jefferson
Hany More (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida woman is behind bars after threatening to burn down a day care business over a months-long child custody dispute, according to law enforcement in the Sunshine State.
In August 2024, Hany Matozes More, 38, was arrested by the Broward Sheriff’s Office on multiple charges, including child abuse, child neglect, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest. She subsequently lost custody of her then-2-month-old daughter. The defendant has since posted bond, and her case in Broward County is pending, court records show.
Earlier this month, More was arrested by deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged threats targeted a KinderCare in Boynton Beach — a medium-sized city in the Miami metro area.
An escalating series of incidents led to the defendant’s latest arrest on Feb. 2, according to an arrest report obtained by West Palm Beach-based CBS affiliate WPEC.
Authorities say the foster parent of More’s daughter reported that the birth mother first showed up at the day care facility on New Year’s Eve 2024 — but was turned away.
Then, on Jan. 23, More allegedly attempted to take her daughter away from the day care facility directly but was again stopped, according to the sheriff’s office.
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On Jan. 29, a hole was discovered in the fence at the day care, authorities say. There was also a tracking device discovered hidden in a stuffed animal that More allegedly gave the child.
On Jan. 30, More allegedly showed up at the KinderCare yet again.
This time, however, she was allegedly toting a butane torch and fire extinguisher and heading toward the foster parent. A security guard is said to have intervened and once more turned the defendant away — but later allegedly found two backpacks containing gasoline nearby. More’s Cuban identification card was allegedly left inside one of the bags.
The foster parent also reported receiving an audio message sent via the WhatsApp account that belongs to a family member of More’s. The voice on the message belonged to the defendant herself, authorities allege, and contained the threat to burn down the day care unless her daughter was returned to her.
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More is currently being detained without bond in the Palm Beach County Jail on one count of intimidation — electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism.
The defendant’s arrest last year was related to a vandalism spree in which she involved her infant, authorities allege, according to court documents obtained by Miami-based ABC affiliate WPLG.
Deputies allege More went to someone else’s home after 11:30 p.m. and with a blunt object, “possibly her high heels,” struck the victim’s door. Then, the defendant allegedly broke the victim’s motorcycle mirror and damaged the hood of his car.
“The defendant was holding her baby throughout all of this,” a deputy wrote in the initial arrest report. “When deputies arrived on scene, the defendant was still haphazardly holding her baby in her arms, nearly dropping her on multiple occasions. The baby was hysterically crying and appeared frightened.”
The child did not suffer any serious harm, authorities say.
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