Mother charged with alleged abuse of 3-year-old child who called her ‘the monster’

RIVERTON, Utah (ABC4) — A woman has been charged with child abuse after allegedly pinching her 3-year-old child, covering her mouth with a blanket, and causing the child to be afraid of and run away from her.

The 27-year-old woman, whom ABC4 is not identifying to protect the victim, has been charged with aggravated child abuse (intentionally or knowingly), a first-degree felony, and assault, a Class B misdemeanor with a domestic violence enhancement.

According to court documents, a detective with the Riverton Police Department began investigating a report of child abuse involving a 3-year-old. The young child stated that her mother “did really bad things” and pinched her on the arm very painfully. This caused a bruise that was roughly six inches in size, documents say.

The woman’s husband reported that on May 27, 2025, she picked up the 3-year-old and another child from a family member’s house when the 3-year-old began “throwing a fit” and “having an absolute meltdown.” He stated that his wife allegedly admitted she pinched the child to “get her to stop.”

The 3-year-old victim described another incident where her mother allegedly put a “blankie” over her face and mouth, stating that “when her mom did that, it was not okay.”

According to documents, her husband told police that he believed the day of “the incident involving the blanket” was May 10 or 11, 2025. He reported that on that day, he had heard the woman telling the 3-year-old victim to “stop it,” followed by the child’s voice sounding muffled.

Her husband reportedly heard “quiet cries” from the child victim. After the incident, she allegedly told him that “covering [the 3-year-old’s] mouth with her hand was too aggressive, so she used a blanket to cover her mouth.”

The woman’s husband provided text messages between himself and his wife from May 11. In the messages, he asks “how physical” the interaction he heard between them was and stated he heard “screams getting cut off” during it and asked the woman covered “her mouth like the other day.”

In the messages, the woman allegedly responded that she did cover her mouth, but “softer,” and claimed that she “used her blankie” because she thought her “hands were getting too rough.”

Her husband reported that the 3-year-old would “cower and run away” from her mother. He shared one occasion when she was sitting on his lap, “shaking with terror,” and telling him that “the monster is going to get me,” referring to her mother.

Doctors with Safe and Healthy Families described several injuries sustained by the 3-year-old, including bruises to her cheek, upper arm, thigh, and shins. They noted that the bruises are “not located in areas typically associated with normal development” and raise “concern for inappropriate handling and inflicted injury.”

While talking with the police, the woman’s husband also disclosed an incident where she had “hit him multiple times” during an argument, causing injury.

A warrant for the woman’s arrest has been ordered by the court.