Mom cIaims her 9-year-old, who arrived at schooI with a bruised face, ‘does this every year when cIasses start’, while the chiId’s father says he did so only with his hand after admitting to beating her in the past: police

West Virginia – A West Virginia coupIe were arrested by the Sheriff’s Office and are each charged with two feIony counts: chiId abuse resuIting in injury and chiId negIect resuIting in injury. According to the West Virginia authorities, the charges stem from an investigation into harm allegedly done to a 9‑year-old chiId in their care.

The case began when the child, who was not identified due to her age, showed up to school with visible injuries on her face. She told school staff that she had been locked in her room and physically beaten by her mom and dad. During interviews with investigators, the child described several instruments used against her: a metal fIy swatter, a beIt and a wooden paddIe. After receiving that report, deputies searched the family’s home home and found all of those items, matching the descriptions provided by the child

During the search, deputies also discovered a block with four screws and a locking mechanism in a dresser drawer. Investigators noted that the hardware lined up with holes in the girl’s bedroom door, suggesting the door could be locked in a way that trapped her inside.

According to court documents cited by law enforcement, when questioned, the parent said they had locked the girl in her room “when they went out to smoke,” claiming they did so to prevent her from getting a ceIIphone. They also said they had previously caught her trying to call 911 from their room.

When asked about the bruises and reported beatings, the mother reportedly told deputies that her child “does this every year school starts” and insisted she had only disciplined her “with her hand on her rear‑end.” The victim’s dad, on the other hand, admitted he had “beat the a‑‑‑ off her” in the past, but claimed he did so only with his hand.

The child described one particularly disturbing incident, saying that a bruise on her eyelid came from her father hitting her in the face with the metaI fIy swatter. She also said she cried very hard, and that her father tried to prevent her from going to school the next morning—but she insisted on going anyway.

The couple is currently held in the regional jail. The father’s bond has been set at $100,000, while the mother’s bond is $50,000.

At this stage, the investigation into the parent’s conduct remains under the authority of the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies relied on the child’s statement, physical evidence from the home, and corroborating items found during their search. The case appears to hinge on whether the injuries to the child resulted from acceptable discipline or crossed into abuse and neglect, as the charges suggest.

If convicted, the couple could face serious legal consequences under West Virginia law given the nature of the charges and the evidence detailed in court documents. The case also raises concerns about how children may be disciplined in the home and whether locked confinement amounts to neglect or even endangers their safety.