WASHINGTON COUNTY, Mo. (WKRC) – A mother and her boyfriend were accused of “severe abuse and neglect.”
According to a press release issued by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Chantel Hayford and Jerry Menees were taken into custody and are facing 24 felony charges after they allegedly locked children in a “chicken pen” and held “fight nights” between minors.
Deputies were alerted by the Division of Family Services (DFS) to alleged severe abuse and neglect involving two children, who are said to be ages 13 and 14.
Per the statement, authorities investigated and reportedly determined that Hayford, the mother of the children, and her boyfriend, Menees, had allegedly “locked the two children in a chicken pen and used BB rifles to shoot at them.”
The sheriff’s office also said evidence collected by investigators “suggests a pattern of ongoing abuse, including an incident at a child’s birthday party and organized ‘fight nights’ where the children were forced to fight one another.” Hayford was also alleged to have had “inappropriate sexual contact involving one of the children.”
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Tuesday, January 13, and the suspects were taken into custody.
Hayford is facing the following charges:
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Mo. (WKRC) – A mother and her boyfriend were accused of “severe abuse and neglect.”
According to a press release issued by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Chantel Hayford and Jerry Menees were taken into custody and are facing 24 felony charges after they allegedly locked children in a “chicken pen” and held “fight nights” between minors.
Deputies were alerted by the Division of Family Services (DFS) to alleged severe abuse and neglect involving two children, who are said to be ages 13 and 14.
Per the statement, authorities investigated and reportedly determined that Hayford, the mother of the children, and her boyfriend, Menees, had allegedly “locked the two children in a chicken pen and used BB rifles to shoot at them.”
The sheriff’s office also said evidence collected by investigators “suggests a pattern of ongoing abuse, including an incident at a child’s birthday party and organized ‘fight nights’ where the children were forced to fight one another.” Hayford was also alleged to have had “inappropriate sexual contact involving one of the children.”
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Tuesday, January 13, and the suspects were taken into custody.
Hayford is facing the following charges:
