How Could You? Hall of Shame-Paul Renuart
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From St. Cloud, Florida, foster father, Paul Renuart, 66, is “accused of sexually abusing at least two girls was fostering six children at the time of his arrest, according to neighbors, raising new questions about oversight within Florida’s foster care system.
Paul Renuart was arrested on seven felony counts related to child sexual abuse. Following his arrest, News 6 began asking the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) how the alleged abuse could occur under the agency’s supervision.
“When I was in the neighborhood yesterday, several people told me that the 66-year-old suspect has been fostering children for several years,” News 6 reporter Troy Campbell said during a stand-up report. “They also said at the time of his arrest there were six children inside the home.”
News 6 has requested records from DCF related to Renuart’s foster care licensing history, including licensing renewals, home inspections, child placement reviews and annual background screenings.
According to DCF’s website, prospective foster parents are required to undergo child abuse checks and fingerprint-based criminal background screenings before being approved.
Attorney Justin Grosz, founder and partner of the law firm Justice for Kids, said cases involving alleged abuse in foster homes often point to broader failures in oversight.
“I’m not surprised,” Grosz said. “It happens far too often here in Florida and around the country.”
Grosz said he has seen instances where DCF failed to follow through on its own policies and procedures.
“There are background checks that are not done,” he said.
He added that abuse cases often involve systemic breakdowns somewhere within the process.
“Usually these cases of abuse don’t occur without a failure somewhere along the way,” Grosz said.
Grosz also pointed to staffing shortages and turnover within child welfare agencies as ongoing concerns.
“High turnover rate. They are not filling some positions,” he said. “There’s probably empty positions in a lot of these spaces in child care that need to be filled.”
Renuart remains in jail without bond.”
[Click on Orlando 6/23/26 by Troy Campbell]
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