When a forensic interview of the juveniles took place April 27, 2022, by a detective and a child protection worker, the 8-year-old child refused to show the bruises on his buttocks, but admitted to having bruises on his hand, leg and arm. The 9-year-old had a bruise on his face, but stated it was from goofing around with his brother.
According to the criminal complaint, Todd told investigators that she caused bruising on the 8-year-old by hitting him with a wooden board more than five times before stopping because her hand hurt.
In court on Jan. 26, Todd began to cry and was handed a box of tissues as Assistant Kandiyohi County Attorney Rachel Molsberry wrapped up her opening statement to the court.
Molsberry alleged that the wooden board, commonly referred to as a “one by two,” used to punish the children had split in two. She also described how the bruising left on both boys had wrapped from their buttocks down to their legs and one boy’s injuries had scabbed over.
According to the criminal complaint, a detective described the bruising as the worst he has seen on a child, and the closest thing he had seen previously was bruising on a child involved in a car crash.
Molsberry also said due to the shared trauma both boys endured, they are currently separated and can’t visit each other due to triggers.
In her statement, an emotional Todd said, “I know what I did was wrong.” She apologized and said, “I never intended to hurt or punish my boys.”
www.wctrib.com
