A 40-year-old mother in West Virginia has been arrested and accused of assaulting her 5-year-old daughter inside their family home last week after the woman allegedly “pinned” the child down and yanked out several of her teeth.
Rebecca Lee Bailey was arrested following the incident and charged with one count of felony child abuse by parent, guardian, custodian, or person in a position of trust resulting in bodily injury, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
According to a news release from the Raleigh Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call on Thursday about possible child abuse at a home in Lester, a southern West Virginia town about 60 miles southeast of Charleston.
When two deputies arrived at the address, they spoke with members of the household and launched a preliminary investigation into what had happened.
“Through their investigation, it was determined that the suspect, Rebecca Bailey, had allegedly pinned down her 5-year-old daughter and tried pulling the victim’s teeth out,” a release from the sheriff’s office said. “The suspect did pull out two of the victims bottom front teeth.”
It was unclear how Bailey removed the victim’s teeth or whether she used any kind of instrument in the attack. The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to Law&Crime’s request for additional information on the case.
A witness to the attack told authorities that while Bailey was allegedly assaulting her daughter, she was heard “yelling that the child ‘had a demon in her.'” The witness also stated that Bailey was “holding a cross” at the time.
Fortunately, another family member in the house was awakened by the “disturbance” and was able to quickly intervene before calling the police. The other family member, who was not identified, stayed with the child until deputies arrived.
Deputies arrested Bailey for child abuse and transported him to Southern Regional Jail for processing.
Authorities did not speculate on the motive for the attack.
Meanwhile, Child Protective Services and Emergency Medical Services were called to the home to “ensure the child received medical attention and was placed in a safe environment.” The 5-year-old was eventually released into the care of a “responsible family member,” according to the sheriff’s office.
“Sheriff Frank Priddy and Chief Deputy Frankie Shelton would like to thank the brave family member who intervened, as well as Deputies Lilly and Eller for their swift response, thorough investigation, and dedication to protecting the safety and wellbeing of our children,” the deputy’s office said in a statement.
According to court records, Bailey is currently being held on a $50,000 bond. She is currently scheduled for a preliminary hearing with Judge Greg Tanner on June 30 at 10 a.m.
