Authorities in Texas took two women into custody following allegations that they assaulted three children using a spiked dog leash and belts due to the boys’ failure to finish their chores.
Two individuals, Haley Blevins, 19, and Jacalyn Cook, 30, are confronting several charges related to harm inflicted on a minor, classified as a felony. On October 15, the mother of three boys, aged 12, 7, and 4, contacted the Texarkana police to report suspected abuse that allegedly took place a few days earlier, as detailed in a probable cause arrest affidavit.
A 30-year-old mother shared that she and her three children relocated to Cook’s residence after experiencing homelessness. Not long after, Cook permitted Blevins to take up residence too. The mother allegedly voiced concerns regarding Blevins due to a background of mental health issues.
Upon arriving home from work on October 11, she was informed by her oldest son that he and his siblings had been subjected to violence. Upon returning home from school, Blevins assigned them various chores to tackle. The tasks included washing dishes, transporting a mattress outdoors, and relocating a couch from one room to another, according to the affidavit.
Blevins reportedly started hitting the boys due to the chores not being done “to her satisfaction,” according to police reports. The oldest son assessed that Blevins and Cook had hit him over 20 times.
The officers observed that all three boys displayed bruises and welts along their buttocks and legs. Investigators suspected that the injuries seemed to be “excessive in terms of discipline.”
Authorities brought the young individuals to the Children’s Advocacy Center for interviews. A 7-year-old reported that Cook supposedly struck him with a “spiky switch” from a tree, while Blevins used a belt on him. A 4-year-old reported to authorities that Cook struck him with a “spiked leash,” according to the affidavit.
During the interview, the eldest son explained his presence at the advocacy center by stating, “I got abused on Friday,” according to the affidavit.
He mentioned that he was instructed to wash the dishes but ran out of soap and ceased the task. Following his decision to lie down on the bed, Blevins reportedly entered the room and began hitting him with a “thick belt.” Blevins instructed him to relocate a couch to a different room, but it proved to be heavy and difficult for him to manage.
According to the affidavit, Blevins reportedly struck him with a belt whenever he dropped it. According to police reports, he and his brothers were compelled to face a wall while Blevins continued to strike them with a belt.
Authorities apprehended Blevins and Cook, subsequently transporting them to the Bowie County Jail.