It looked for a moment like NBA star Dwight Howard was going to be off the hook in a child abuse investigation that began in Florida. Howard's ex, Royce Reed, accused him of beating their 6-year-old son Braylon, with a belt buckle, something that was actually substantiated after a full exam by the Department of Children and Families. Dr. Kesler said that abrasions on the child were consistent with being struck repeatedly with a belt buckle, and Howard himself confirmed he had punished his son in that manner. According to Howard, it was how he was punished as a kid and had no idea it was wrong. Even after all this, Florida closed up its investigation, saying there was not enough credible proof. It looked like Howard was cleared — at least until yesterday.

According to a new TMZ report, Braylon's injuries actually occurred in Georgia and the Cobb County Police Department had been asking for the file on this case for months, with no cooperation. After TMZ actually posted Florida DCF's findings, it gave Cobb County more leverage and the file ended up in their hands within a few hours.

A source confirmed, "People who were not so forthcoming before today [Monday] have been."

They also confirmed that detectives have already conducted a series of interviews and that this case has gone from cold to the top of the pile.

Howard is now the subject of a full child abuse investigation in Georgia, but his handlers insist this has nothing to do with disciplining his son. Instead, they insist that it is really all about money and that Reed is trying to grab some extra cash from her ex.

Do you think Reed is looking for money? Does that even make sense here? It sounds like Cobb County is pretty determined to file some sort of charges against Howard, doesn't it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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