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.

[GovernmentShrinker]

You are a sicko for thinking the police shouldn't be aggressively looking for the child and her perp mother. However, you are correct that someone should have intervened at the scene -- preferably an armed citizen who could have taken out the mother if necessary. This is a glaring example of why every one of us should carry all the time.

[GovernmentShrinker]

They said they think a fake name was given.

[TamiPie]

Wait till her hubby sees the video....

[steveo]

Wait till her hubby sees the video....

Wanna bet hubby gives wife the same treatment?

[tomakaze]

RE:You are a sicko for thinking the police shouldn't be aggressively looking for the child and her perp mother. However, you are correct that someone should have intervened at the scene -- preferably an armed citizen who could have taken out the mother if necessary. This is a glaring example of why every one of us should carry all the time.
 
Thanks for the love, now pull your boxers out of that wad they're obviously in.

[TamiPie]

What make/model of SUV is this?

Mom must make good $$ in order to afford one of those (or she leases it).

I hate to be in her shoes.

[TamiPie]

Do you think she deserves it?

[glory]

Some said they want to see the actual video. As abhorant as watching Dan Rather is(my mother watches it nightly--grr), they will be showing the video in the next few moments.

I've been frustrated shopping with kids too and they have gotten a spanking or two while we have been out, but punching a child and shaking them? That poor little girl. I hope they find her and she is ok. I agree with someone else, given the very liberal policies of most stores and returns, and her giving a false name, the items were likely stolen, she was ticked they didn't return them for cash, and the child was probably doing no more than acting like a child does in a store(bored with a lot of energy) and she was an easy target for all that anger:-( Poor kid. I hope she is ok.

[philetus]

Has anyone actually seen the part of the video that shows the child being beat?
The above clips don't show anything like that.

[glory]

Coming on CBS next.

[D.P.Roberts]

I feel so safe with all these Eunices out there to protect me!

D.P.Roberts

[glory]

Well I just saw them and the thing that strikes me the most is that the child didn't do anything to even get a rise out of the mother. The child was getting in the car, the mother looks over her shoulder(like to see if anyone is looking), and starts beating the hell out of her. She spanked and punched her while she was on the floor and then after she was in the seat she punched her in what looked to be her face or head several times. Really sick stuff. Please Lord that this child will be rescued.

[SarahW]

She looks like a mom adjusting a car seat in the pictures.

I'd like to see the VIDEO.

[Eternal_Bear]

I saw the video on CBS and it was sickening beyond description. Absolutely brutal. Anyone defending the mother is a total idiot.

[glory]

Agreed.

[SarahW]

Glad to have a first-hand account of the video. The pics are good for ID, but not to show what happened.

[steveo]

Do you think she deserves it?

No, nobody deserves to be beaten.
I can't imagine a mom treating her child like that unless it is learned behavior. BTW, what does her driving a SUV have to do with anything? Abusive behavior can be found in all economic levels. Anyway, I was only musing that if she were beaten by her husband then perhaps she can justify (in her own mind) that is acceptable for her to beat his children. Or maybe she is just a horrible person.

[Poohbah]

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.

For the correctional sentence, I prefer Penal Code Section 7.62.

[TamiPie]

When they find her, she'll have lot of explainig to do, not to be very very embarrassed...

[AppyPappy]

Sounds like you're speaking from experience.

When my kids act up in the store, we leave. Period. They get nada which is why they quit acting up in the store.