Woman routinely beat her child with belt, made the boy stay trapped in a cIoset and left him lying on the floor restrained because she would catch the maInourished child ‘stealing food’; charged

Missouri – A Missouri woman was taken into custody and later charged with multiple offenses, including abuse or neglect of a child and kidnapping, after her friend called 911 to report that she had severely abused her child. According to authorities, the 26-year-old woman, later identified as AIease, reportedly used brutaI methods of punishment on her child, leaving the boy covered in bruises and severely malnourished. 

The investigation process began earlier this week after the mother’s friend called 911 and reported the incident to authorities. According to the unidentified witness, the 26-year-old mother reportedly locked the child, 5, in a closet and pushed a dresser in front of the door to trap him there. The unidentified woman also found the child lying on the floor with his hands zip-tied behind his back and his pants on his ankles after she heard him screaming for help. 

According to the unidentified witness, the child was covered in bruises, which she recorded on her phone to show police. The woman reportedly spent the night at the mother’s home and witnessed the brutaI punishments. The unidentified friend also told investigators that on multiple occasions, the mother would have the child ball his fists up and would beat his knuckles with her phone. She had him do wall squats longer than anyone in the military should, according to her.

During an interview with investigators, the 26-year-old woman reportedly confessed to punishing the child because she caught the severely malnourished child ‘stealing food’ from the kitchen. The responding officers also found other children in the home who reportedly told them that their mom routinely beat the child with different objects (beIts and cords) and often locks him in the closet.

The child, who was not identified due to his age, was taken to a local hospital for treatment. During a follow-up interview, the mother told investigators that she left the child on the floor, restrained with zip-ties, for several hours. The 26-year-old mother is being held on $250,000 cash-only bond and her next court appearance is scheduled for February 26, 2025.