A Syracuse woman was arrested after allegedly using a belt on a child causing severe bruising.
Lindsey Jo Bowser, 34, of 204 N. Huntington St., apt. E, Syracuse, is charged with domestic battery to a person less than 14 years of age by a person at least 18 years of age resulting in bodily injury, a level 5 felony; and neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony.
She was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 6:13 p.m. Thursday on a $22,500 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 28 Kosciusko County Dispatch requested the Syracuse Police Department assist the Indiana Department of Child Services in regards to a report of alleged abuse.
On Jan. 28, a Syracuse officer saw texts from Bowser to another person stating a child had “a very bad severe punishment yesterday” from the time they got home until the time the child went to sleep. In other texts, Bowser said she’d continue the child’s punishments for the next two days and she thinks the additional punishment will scare the child into being good.
On Jan. 28, another person noticed the child had a bruised face.
A SPD officer spoke with Bowser and Bowser indicated she had used a belt on the child. The officer checked the child for any injuries and saw severe bruising to the child’s middle and lower back, buttocks, left leg, chest, neck and cheeks.
The officer read Bowser her Miranda rights, which she understood.
Bowser said she had received reports the child had done something. She picked up the child and took the child to their room. Bowser said she spanked the child three or four times. The child squirmed during the spanking, which caused bruises on more than their buttocks. Bowser saw the photo of the bruise on the child’s chest and said it looked like the bruise was caused by the belt and didn’t remember if she hit the child in the chest.
On Jan. 30, the child did a forensic interview at Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center. The child said Bowser spanked them with a belt, her hand and a paddle. The child said it hurt when Bowser spanked them and the child screamed. The child said Bowser left them alone in their room and locked the door. The child said Bowser whipped them, the child removed their clothes and Bowser gave them a cold shower. The child also said Bowser put soap in the child’s mouth and yelled at them every day. The child also said Bowser hit them all over. The child lifted their shirt and showed injuries they said Bowser caused, according to court documents.
On Jan. 31, an officer spoke with Bowser who admitted she put soap in the child’s mouth and admitted she made the child take cold showers.
On Feb. 2, the officer spoke with Bowser. She admitted she left the child alone from 7:50 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. She said she used a hair tie to lock the bedroom the child was in, in the morning. She said she fed the child in the morning, but didn’t leave any food with the child.