A mother from North Carolina reportedly justified her choice to restrain her 4-year-old son and confine him to a closet as a form of discipline.
A 30-year-old woman named Tiffany Rivera faces allegations of causing harm to her young son during their stay at a hotel in Charlotte. A probable cause affidavit examined by Law&Crime reveals that the suspected abuse came to light on August 7, when Charlotte police were alerted following her son’s treatment at Onslow Memorial Hospital, where medical staff observed injuries on the boy’s neck, wrists, and ankles.
Detectives were informed by social workers that Rivera had mentioned her intention to “tie the victim’s wrists and ankles together and then place him inside a closet as a form of punishment.”
“Tiffany advised the social workers that she would do this because the victim would eat all of her food, drink whatever he wanted, and poop/pee on himself,” the affidavit continued.
Authorities observed a combination of recent and past injuries on the child, according to the affidavit. The young patient needed multiple days of treatment in the medical facility.
Authorities report that a witness indicated he inquired with Rivera regarding the boy’s injuries after observing them on July 30.
“[S]he responded with ‘I do whatever I want to my child,’” the affidavit said. That witness also told investigators that the boy appeared scared to talk around Rivera, and despite being fully potty-trained, “the victim recently started urinating on himself.”
Rivera resides in Jacksonville, located in Onslow County, approximately 250 miles to the east of Charlotte. Documents from the court indicate that Rivera secured a $5,000 bond and was freed from detention on September 10. A court appearance is scheduled for her in Charlotte on October 1.
