An Indiana couple has been charged with neglect — and the stepmother charged with battery — a 911 call brought emergency responders to the home and found an unresponsive 7-year-old girl was brought to the hospital with “bruises all over her.”
Jennifer Revis, 33, reportedly told police her stepdaughter suffered a seizure after an argument, WPTA reported. She said the girl pushed her brother, and he retaliated by grabbing her. Then the dog bit the girl and she began to have a seizure.
Doctors at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital said they didn’t believe the child would survive her injuries after undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on her brain.
But doctors found multple bruises and abrasions on her leg, back, hands, and face and determined that the injuries were “non-accidental,” WXIN reported.
The child also had “significant brain damage,” police said.
Revis initially told investigators that the girl “threw herself on the floor” and “started having … a seizure,” an affidavit says. But she also admitted abusing the child.
“I did beat the s*** out of her two days ago,” she reportedly said, claiming the girl is “awful to deal with.”
She also detailed incidents of “physical discipline,” which included a time she said she forcefully shoved the child through the doorway, causing her face to strike a wall. She also also said she punched the girl in the face with her fist.
“During the interview, Jennifer repeatedly expressed frustration with (the child) and admitted full responsibility for the physical assaults, stating, ‘I should have more self-control, I’m an adult,’ and ‘I know I went too far’,” the documents said.
The child’s father, 28-year-old Ryan Revis, told investigators he saw the injuries and chose not to intervene.
“Ryan admitted he overlooked signs of escalating abuse due to fear of confrontation and fear of losing (his other kids),” court documents say.
Ryan Revis also told investigators he had smacked the child himself on occasion.
Jennifer Revis reportedly said the abuse was rage-induced, WPTA said, brought on by the girl’s alleged disrespect. But court documents say she was “vague” about what she considered disrespectful.
“I see rage, bro,” Jennifer Revis told police, “when she talks to me like that, I just see rage, and I don’t know.”
The girl’s current condition is unknown.
Jennifer Revis has been charged with two counts of neglecting a dependent, one count of aggravated battery, and two counts of domestic battery. Ryan Revis is charged with one count of neglect resulting in catastrophic injury. It’s not clear why he wasn’t charged with battery since he admitted hitting the girl in police interviews.
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[Featured image: Jennifer and Ryan Revis/Blackford County Jail]
