A man from Missouri, who is said to be dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, was taken into custody on Friday for repeatedly hitting his wife’s 12-year-old daughter in the head until she lost consciousness, all because she didn’t tidy up her room.
Dustin Woodrow Pierce, 39, allegedly told the little girl she was “fine” and “weak” after battering her, Lincoln News Now reported.
When a deputy arrived at the scene following the 911 call, he noted in the official report that the girl didn’t display any visible injuries; however, she was later found to have suffered a concussion after being examined at the hospital.
Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood emphasized the importance of distinguishing between what some might consider reasonable disciplinary action and inflicting blows to the head. He stressed that hitting a child in the head is never an acceptable form of discipline.
Wood said the girl’s injuries were more severe than the deputy assumed and she is now working with a physical therapist to regain motor function and is being monitored for brain bleeds.
“Once they got her to medical providers, they were able to determine there was substantial injuries to her brain,” Wood said. “The injuries weren’t on the outside. They were internal.”
A probable cause statement says that Pierce told the girl to go upstairs and clean her room, but she refused. He then told the girl’s mother that “if you’re not gonna handle this, I will,” and followed the girl upstairs, where the mother saw him hit the girl three times.
Pierce is a military veteran who is scheduled to enter an in-patient PTSD clinic in Kansas on December 30, prosecutors wrote in their bond request form. They also said that Pierce “has specialized military training and is a danger to himself and others.”
Pierce has been charged with abuse and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
