MOUNDSVILLE - After finding out her 6-year-old daughter had tripped and fallen, Tammy Smith, 43, allegedly took action that police believe will leave a painful, lasting impression.
While officers know the letters "wimp" on the child's neck will heal, they also know there is a good chance the burned flesh from which they were created will scar.
"The 'i' was even dotted," said investigating Detective Shawn Allman. The 6-year-old "said that her mom burned her with a cigarette because she was mad at her because she had tripped."
On Friday, Smith was arrested on five felony counts of child abuse and five felony counts of malicious assault. She was taken to the Northern Regional Jail, where she was being held on $50,000 bond.
According to Allman, the investigation began Wednesday after the Moundsville Police Department was contacted by a representative from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources about a child who may have been abused. Allman said the DHHR was contacted by the secretary at the school the child attends.
"She advised that a teacher had noticed a burn mark on the 6-year-old's neck a week ago and had taken a picture of the burn," Allman said.
Upon reviewing the picture with a representative from Harmony House, Allman quickly realized investigators were dealing with more than just one burn.
"She turned the picture, and I could clearly see the letters," Allman said.
He said the child was immediately removed from the home and has been turned over to the DHHR to be placed in foster care.
If convicted, Smith could be sentenced to one to five years in prison on each child abuse charge and two to 10 years in prison for each malicious wounding charge, according to West Virginia Code. She also could be fined.