A mother and stepfather were arrested in Ruston last week after officers learned of a child who had been beaten severely.
Ebony Owens, 33, and Aaron Steed, 32, were arrested February 13 after a 12-year-old child said his sister had been beaten with a belt buckle and cut with a knife by his mother.
The boy gave a detailed account of the incident and what evidence could be found in their apartment. He also said the sister did not go to school because of her injuries.
A search warrant was executed at the apartment and evidence confirming the boy’s account was located, according to a detective’s report.
Officers found the alleged victim had obvious injuries and deep gashes to her face and leg. The cuts had been bandaged but were so deep that medical treatment and stitches were needed.
Steed told officers he saw Owens with a knife but did not see her cut the victim. He saw blood dripping from the girl’s face after an argument with Owens about the child being disrespectful.
Owens said she got into an argument and recalled picking up a knife but then “blacked out” and did not remember what happened.
Both Steed and Owens were booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for cruelty to a juvenile. Owens was also charged with aggravated domestic abuse battery.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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