Police: Arkansas Child Zip-Tied To Bed As Punishment
An Arkansas child has been removed from the custody of her parents after authorities say she was punished in an inhumane manner. THV 11 News reports that Jennifer Denen and her boyfriend, Clarence Reed, have been slapped with various charges associated with the allegations against them.
Police in Hot Springs say that they were alerted to the alleged abuse by medical staff at the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center. Arkansas Department of Human Services, along with hospital staff, had examined the girl and determined that she had suffered from injuries associated with physical abuse.
The Sentinel Record reports that the victim in this case is a 4-year-old girl, who has reportedly confirmed with officials that she has been abused by her mother and her mother’s live-in boyfriend. Along with the statements made by the unnamed victim, a physical exam allegedly revealed that the girl had indeed been abused. Such injuries to the 4-year-old girl included swelling to the right side of her face, a black eye, dried blood in the corners of her mouth, and “deep purple bruising” on her legs, back, and buttocks. The Arkansas child also had what appeared to be ligature marks on her wrists.
Another sad detail in this case of alleged child abuse involves the way the child had been treated on emotional and mental levels. When asked what her name was by DHS workers, the child answered “idiot.” The child had been convinced that “idiot” was her name. On top of that, police say that the 4-year-old Arkansas child was malnourished.
When interviewed, the little girl’s mother admitted to authorities that she had witnessed her boyfriend, Clarence Reed, striking the child. She claims that the man used a plastic baseball bat to hit her daughter. The Arkansas mom also admitted to authorities that she was aware that Reed confined the child to furniture, using zip-ties. Clarence Reed also allegedly admitted to punishing the child severely. He allegedly told authorities that he used a wooden paddle to punish her, and that he and his girlfriend used zip-ties to keep her in bed, because she liked to climb on cabinets and wander.
This isn’t the first time a child has been zip-tied or confined in some other manner as a form of alleged child abuse. Last year, a photo went viral on social media that depicted a baby bound and gagged. The shocking image was reportedly posted by the infant’s mother, but she deleted it after it started attracting worldwide media attention. The woman has publicly defended the photo, claiming that there was “nothing sinister” to it.
Child Abuse or Witnessing Parental Violence Tied to Later Substance Abusehttps://t.co/4Bk6f0znpJ pic.twitter.com/q88gbd9ZWT
— CHIXTU MANITUE (@lillabet1952) August 1, 2016
Also last year, a Georgia mother was arrested on accusations that she abused her 16-month-old son. Police say Grace Love An used packing tape and cellophane to bind her baby, before locking him in a vehicle for several hours. The Georgia woman was charged with first-degree child cruelty, reckless conduct, and false imprisonment.
In a more horrifying case, last year a man named Thomas Poole was jailed for 22 years after he tied up and raped a baby. The “dangerous pedophile” also took pictures of the horrifying abuse he inflicted on the 6-month-old baby.
“Children who are the victims of sexual and/or physical abuse or who witness chronic parental violence are far… https://t.co/bh5ZEZceLi
— CASA of CGS (@casaofcgs) August 15, 2016
The Arkansas child in this latest case has been placed in state custody. Meanwhile, Jennifer Denen and Clarence Reed have been charged with first-degree domestic battery, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, and permitting child abuse. They are both currently being held in Garland County Jail, on bond in the amount of $500k.
[Images via Garland County Jail]
