A Miami Beach police officer is the father of a 4-year-old girl who was found dead in dumpster Sunday in southwest Miami-Dade, officials say.
Miami Beach police have released a statement requesting that the privacy of Officer Leon Paige, 27, be "respected during this very difficult time."
Records show that Paige and his daughter's mother, Tina Farrington, 31, were embroiled in a legal dispute after Farrington accused the officer of abusing their 2-year-old son in June, according to a report by the Miami Herald.
Farrington filed a restraining order against Paige, claiming he beat their son with a belt and sent him to day care with knots on his head.
The Florida Department of Children and Families opened an investigation, but found no signs of abuse. Paige was not arrested.
Records show that Paige had a no contact order issued against him on Aug. 9, which was set to expire on Dec. 31. A judge granted Paige supervised visits with his children twice a week.
Despite the abuse allegations against Paige, police said it was Farrington who killed their daughter on Halloween after the girl talked back to her.
Farrington confessed to killing her daughter, authorities said.
DCF spokeswoman Jessica Sims said Farrington and Paige's son is in the care of relatives. A shelter hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.