Police searching for woman seen beating child

WNDU ^ | 9/19/02

[TomB]

The Mishawaka Police Department recently received a surveillance video taken from Kohl's Department Store on Grape Road in Mishawaka. The video shows a young girl, approximately four-years-old, apparently being severely beaten. Police are asking for the public's help in tracking down the woman and young girl. They say they are very worried about the girl's safety and believe she needs to get medical attention immediately.

Police say the two women caught the attention of security personnel at Kohl's. Detective Chief Mike Samp of the Mishawaka Police Department reports, "They had some items that they took into Kohl's to try to receive monies for and for whatever reason they were refused. They exchanged and they were asked to leave the store." The cameras followed them to the car and caught the incident on tape.

The assault

The girl, who police believe is just four-years-old, got into the car. Her mother looked around and then for some unknown reason the assault began. According to officials, the little girl received at least five initial blows before the she was hit and shaken several more times. At one point during the assault the woman grabbed the child by her hair. Once in her car seat, she was punched in the face more than a dozen times. The assault lasts just over 25 seconds.

Immediate concern is for child's safety

"Oh my God!" That was the response of Dr. Arnold Del Pilar of the Ironwood Medical Center upon reviewing the surveillance tape. "Punching her?I mean, [this is] blunt head trauma. This child needs to be medically evaluated," he stated. Dr. Del Pilar consulted with police and police agree with his statement. That is why police are asking for the public's help. Deputy Prosecutor of St. Joseph County, Maggie Jones stated, "Our immediate concern, as Chief Samp has stated, is to locate the child and to get the child out of that environment. It made me sick to think that that child is still with that mother and, quite frankly, if that mother is willing to do that in a parking lot, what is she doing at home?"

Family is "less than helpful"

The video camera was able to get a picture of the Texas license plate on the white SUV. Police found the car and talked to family members, but they called the family less than helpful. Chief Samp reported, "We spoke with family members. They have indicated to us that the suspect and the victim have left the state." However, police believe the woman and her daughter may still be in the area and are searching for the little girl to make sure she is okay. Police describe the family as mobile and not cooperative. They are not releasing a name at the time because they do not know if the name they have been given is correct.

The mother's description is as follows:

* Blond hair

* 5' 6" or 7"

* 135 pounds

* 24 or 25 years old

Anyone with any information on their whereabouts is asked to call the Mishawaka Police Department at 258-1684 or you may also contact them via email at Police@Mishawakacity.com.

[mountaineer]

why the hell didn't someone physically step in and see just what the hell was going on?

Didn't you just say they should mind their own damn business?

[TomB]

If it was that bad (bad to warrant a call to the cops), then why the hell didn't someone physically step in and see just what the hell was going on?

Because they were inside the store? And the smart thing to do would be to call the poice?

But I thought you said they should mind their own business?

[twigs]

From the description, if it's accurate, this woman went over the discipline line and did abuse this child. I'm a firm believer in physical discipline, but I don't believe that means beating. That said, I find it downright scary that this woman was taped in the parking lot. Was she parked right in front? Or are there cameras watching us everywhere?

[Larry Lucido]

No. the solution is for people to mind their own damned business. It works.

Should the woman in the Georgia diner have done the same thing? (Mind her own business, that is?)

[cardinal4]

No. the solution is for people to mind their own damned business.

It works.

Ill remember that when someone is beating your child.

[tomakaze]

RE:Because they were inside the store? And the smart thing to do would be to call the poice? But I thought you said they should mind their own business?
 
Delegation of authority and taking matters into your own hands right on the spot are too entirely different things.
If anyone doesn't ituitivley grasp why one is better than the other, I aint gonna bother explaining, because it would be a complete waste of both our time.

[Rustheman]

That's just plain crazy. I'm at a loss for words cause I feel for that child. Some folks should just never be parents.

[CJ Wolf]

"Or are there cameras watching us everywhere?"

Yep there are.

[tomakaze]

RE:Ill remember that when someone is beating your child
 
Thanks. I appreciate that.

[TomB]

Delegation of authority and taking matters into your own hands right on the spot are too entirely different things.

"Delegation of authorithy"??? How does calling the authorities when witnessing a crime become "delegating authority"?

The people operating the security camera witnessed a crime and called the police, they very well may have sent someone out to the parking lot, and they may have been gone. But the fact remains, if they couldn't stop the abuse, should they just forget it?

[Trust but Verify]

Well, I can see tomikaze is being shown how ridiculous that statement was. I am just about speechless. Some people have developed such an unhealthy distaste for authority they no longer use the brains the good Lord gave them.

[tomakaze]

RE:Well, I can see tomikaze is being shown how ridiculous that statement was. I am just about speechless. Some people have developed such an unhealthy distaste for authority they no longer use the brains the good Lord gave them.
 
This particular case isn't even really what got my dander up - rather, the propaganda mileage that'll be milked out of it.

[JosephW]

Many stores have cameras that watch the parking lot. This helps to deter auto theft and those who would break into your vehicle.

Remember this was on private property. The govt had nothing to do with this until the store employees called them. As to why they didn't just go out and stop the abuse: They are probably in the back of the store in a small office, and by time they would get out there, she would be long gone.

[Charlie OK]

want some insight from a little different angle? I worked at Kohls part time in the evenings for awhile a couple of months ago. Their policy is to return ANYTHING, so it surprises me to hear that they rejected her. They figure that this will make people happy and will make up the money lost by having more people shop there because of their policy. I am guessing that this woman was trying to bring back a stolen item, and was pissed when it didn't work. She then took it out on her child. That little girl looked like a sweetheart too.

Too bad they didn't return it for her, as they would have her driver's license # and name, among other things.

[agrace]

Yep, you're probably right. I used to work for a discount dept store and as a manager spent a bunch of time in the security room either helping to watch cameras when they were short handed or acting as a witness when a shoplifter was caught, which was almost daily (just outside the Queens NY border).

The security rooms should be located close to the door but often, including in my store, are at the back or on the second floor by the other offices. The security personnel probably headed out as soon as they saw what was going on (without a doubt, the guys in my store would have run immediately, with me in total agreement) but couldn't get there before she took off.

I don't understand not releasing the name, regardless of the chance that it is false - at least it's something, and what if it's the correct one?

[TomB]

Interesting. Thanks for the input.

How far, in a typical store, would the security office be from the parking lot at the front of the store?

[montag813]

If we lived in a country with rational laws, she would have the child taken from her and she would be sterilized and prohibited from adopting children, in addition to an appropriate correctional sentence.

Alas, we don't. So we will just warn this monster about it, and the poor girl will end up dead.

[TomB]

Thanks agrace, you answered my question.

And I wondered about not announcing the name too. I mean if they will post her picture, and they know who her relatives are, why not release the name? Strange.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Parking lot security cameras prevent and solve a lot of serious, violent crime. Remember the woman whose baby was snatched a few weeks ago, as she turned her back from her car to return a shopping cart a few feet away? The more the merrier. It's not like they're aiming them at your home.

[GovernmentShrinker]

They should get the FBI involved, since the family members (including, apparently, one who present at the crime scene) SAY she has left the state. Start polygraphing the family members and the owner of the car (whoever that is). Explain to them first what the penalties are for being an accessory to the murder of a child -- since if the child has brain hemorraghing (as the doctor thinks she might), a delay in finding her and getting her medical treatment could be the difference between life and death.