Two Florida boys, ages 12 and 13, are facing serious charges after their own mothers turned them in for vandalizing a school library and causing over $50,000 in damage. According to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, the pair broke into Friendship Elementary School in Deltona on September 13. Deputies say the boys first entered during the day, then returned that night to wreak havoc. Inside the library, they allegedly hurled books, smashed furniture, graffitied doors, and even set off the fire alarm. When deputies arrived, the media center was in ruins.
Photos showed books strewn across the floor and property destroyed, while surveillance footage captured two masked suspects, one wearing a Monster Energy cap. After police shared the footage online, tips poured in—but the breakthrough came when the boys’ mothers recognized them and alerted authorities.
Identified as 12-year-old Felix Cohen Romero and 13-year-old Bentley Ryan Wehrly, both confessed. They now face charges including burglary, trespassing, criminal mischief, and theft. The case drew wide attention online, with many praising the mothers for holding their sons accountable despite the difficulty.
Some suggested the boys should be required to help clean up the damage as part of their punishment. While their futures in the juvenile justice system remain uncertain, their mothers’ tough decision has been widely seen as a powerful lesson in accountability.