A Muncie mother was arrested after she allegedly slapped her 9-month daughter in the face at least twice, telling police she did so because the baby’s father “cared more about (the infant) than her.”
Chantel Kay Spradlin, 32, was arrested Friday evening on preliminary counts of neglect of a dependent, battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under the age of 14 and interference with the reporting of a crime.
The child’s father told police when he came home from work on Friday afternoon, Spradlin informed him she had “slapped (the baby) on the face two times,” saying she did so “to get his attention... (because) he didn’t care about (Spradlin).”
The father said when he began to call authorities, Spradlin tried to grab his cellphone, then kicked a stroller the baby was in “with enough force to break the bottom carrier
net.”
Spradlin later told an officer she had “smacked (the baby) approximately three times to get (the father’s) attention (because) he cared more about (their daughter) than her.”
Authorities said the baby had “red marks and swelling” on both sides of her face, but otherwise appeared to be healthy. Her father was told to take her to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for an exam.
The father said the child was in his care because Spradlin reportedly threatened to kill a nurse while in the hospital to give birth, but that he had allowed the mother to watch their daughter while he worked.
Police: Jealous mother slapped 9-month-old daughter
A Muncie mother was arrested after she allegedly slapped her nine-month daughter in the face at least twice.
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