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Girl Has ‘Wimp’ Burned on Neck

By ANNIE DIMMICK
POSTED: November 22, 2008

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.

Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 |26-31 | Post a comment
Momma2Alex
11-27-08 10:22 PM
This case was on the AOL welcome screen the other day and I saw the pictures of the burn online! All I can say is...wow. Just, wow.

fostermom
11-24-08 8:09 PM
Acousticportal...........AMEN!!!!! The apathy is astounding!

acousticportal
11-24-08 12:46 PM
This isn't about welfare or bad parenting...it's bigger...it's the culture of ignorance, entitlement, drugs, alcohol, yee-haw shoot em up, abuse, and neglect, in Moundsville, as well as all around the valley. We know it's happening, and we tolerate it. This is not suprising. I'll bet this young lady has a lot more to disclose about her upbringing.

SphinxRising58
11-24-08 5:06 AM
Momma2Alex: Exactly, well put.

Abusive people live all around, & in most cases, it is not a secret who abuses their children so why aren't more people coming forward to report such cases ?

I am not saying call Child Protective Services every 5 seconds, nor use it as a weapon as some are known to do, but use it in defense of those children who cannot protect themselves.

People lost thier minds when an aniumal sheltor was closed down for a littlwe while, but child abuse & neglect goes on all the time everywhere & no one says anything until some child ends up hurt or dead.

Most professionals are required by law to report even suspected cases of abuse or neglect

SphinxRising58
11-24-08 5:00 AM
fostermom: Well, I do fell that protecting a child that has suffered truma of any type is a good thing, I do not wish to stop the information from reaching other children,as they need to know help is out there should they also suffer.

In most cases, the names of the child is not released anyways, but this being a small area, word gets around, & people like to gossip.

SphinxRising58
11-24-08 4:57 AM
EllisWyatt: You are full of the brown stuff, as it is a federal mandate that 5 years is the absolute longest anyone can remain on assistance, after which, all benefits will be cut off forever.

If you do not believe me, call the local DHHR & they will tell you the same thing, as it is not a local or state law, it is a federal law signed into action by former President Clinton.

Perhaps you are confusing Welfare with SSI ( disability ), or Social Security, & even they require a yearly checkup to see if you have become fit for work, no exceptions.

WVSonDC
11-23-08 10:52 PM
I think she should get SEVEN SPRINGS branded on her forehead..backwards...so when she looks at her ugly mug in the mirror she will always think at hitting the slopes at SEVEN SPRINGS!!!

TheRealityPolice
11-23-08 9:56 PM
Um - then turn off the electronic babysitter - I mean TV - in your house so the kid doesn't have to SEE the news. As to the newspaper, I'd be glad the kid can read. Geesh.

fostermom
11-23-08 7:19 PM
SphinxRising58.........did I mention that I'm a "fostermom"? If anyone is aware of the abuse out there, it is me. I have parented 24 kids in 4 years.......all that have come from abuse and neglect. The point I was trying to make was that I have mixed feelings about the publicity these cases receive. I think the world should know about the abuses these children suffer at the hands of their parents but I also think we need to shiled the child or children froom seeing the publicity. It's bad enough that they have lived it once.......let alone over and over because it is in the news.

Momma2Alex
11-23-08 6:57 PM
This indeed was picked up nationally and is being reported on Fox News, in San Diego, in Philly and all across the nation. As a community we need to be vocal that if this woman is indeed guilty, we will not stand for it. And I also want to give recognition to DHHR and Moundsville Police for their quick response to ensure this child's safety. As far as blaming DHHR for not getting involved sooner, they can't act unless people REPORT!

EllisWyatt
11-23-08 2:09 PM
A 5-year limit on welfare benefits? Apparently, the people who benefit from welfare didn't get that memo. I have seen people, the same people, living on the dole for DECADES. They have never held jobs so how else would they survive if not for benefits? I am pretty sure that, in PA at least, you can continue to get benefits while you have school aged children. Hence, the mothers with 6 kids to 5 men.

I knew of a guy living in public housing who had an ACCESS card (a debit card for people on welfare) on which he received $1,400 per month in welfare cash and $1,800 per month in food stamp money. He had no children. So, this man had free housing and $3,200 per month in spending money. Why should I work? To support this waste of oxygen?

We should never FORCE anyone to take birth control. It will be voluntary. If you want a check, come into the clinic and get a shot. Also, if you committ a crime while on the dole, you are immediately kicked off welfare.

SphinxRising58
11-23-08 1:53 PM
fostermom: Sad to say, but there are " monsters " everywhere, as just because everything looks nice on the outside does not mean it is all nice & cozy behind them closed doors, and neglect & abuse comes in many fashions, not all that leave marks.

SphinxRising58
11-23-08 1:51 PM
TheRealityPolice: Well as far as people on assiistance or Welare, it does not matter if they have more children, as they still lose all benifits at the end of the 5 year limit.

It used to be that several generations would live on welfare, but they put a stop to that long ago, & contray to popular belief, Welfare does make those getting a check work for it, & for those who refuse to work for it, no benifits.

That gravy train is long gone.

fostermom
11-23-08 12:39 PM
While I agree that society needs to know about the "monsters" tht live among us, has anyone stopped to think how this little girl might be feeling? Her mom's picture has been on the news and in the paper. Her friend's have seen it and are asking her about it. Not only does she have the damage from the burns but she will have to relive it regularly because it was in the news. She's just a little girl. She knows that she comes from a mommy and a daddy and since she is one half of each of them then she must be bad if her mommy is bad. Poor kid.........she is now with a kind and loving family and she will heal on the outside.......maybe we can put it in the paper and on the news a few more times so that it never dies down.

TheRealityPolice
11-23-08 11:16 AM
OH and this story HAS been picked up on the AP wire and is on Fox NATIONAL news - at least online - so prepare for more negative press on the state of WV - where hillbilly parents burn their kids with cigarettes.

TheRealityPolice
11-23-08 10:20 AM
Hmmm - I don't agree that all welfare recipients are trash, either. BUT - I do like the idea of them being on mandatory birth control while receiving benefits. OR, if they are on assistance and then suddenly have 1 or more kids, NO BENEFITS are issued for those dependents. This is an interesting concept and I am not speaking about this case, either.

SphinxRising58
11-23-08 8:27 AM
EllisWyatt: You do love to preach about things you obviously know little to nothing about, huh ?

7 generations ? Let me school you on how Welafrre works now buddy, from the time you get your first check, you have exactly 5 years of assistance left for life, & moving to a new state does not start the cycle over again.

If at the end of the 5 year span, you have managed to not have your act together & be financially independant, all benifits ( cash, foodstamps, medical coverage ) cease immediately, regardless of how many children you may have, forever.

As far as " trash " goes, you have no farther to go than the nearest mirror in order to find it, as I have met many on welfare that are substantially more intelligent & tactful than you are.

TruthinPolitics
11-23-08 12:04 AM
Ellis-I don't see where it says in this article this woman is on welfare. The DHHR would respond when the abuse was reported. Child abuse exists in all socioeconomic groups. Also poor does not equal trash. You're an idiot.

sbrown3318
11-22-08 9:52 PM
The mother should receive 10 years for each letter!

EllisWyatt
11-22-08 8:55 PM
Just another reason why people on welfare should be on forced birth control.

This will be a voluntary program. If you CHOOSE to collect welfare for 7 generations, you CHOOSE to take forced birth control. This will save tax dollars as well as preventing us from supporting another generation of trash.

ohyeah
11-22-08 7:07 PM
I think this lady should have to face longer jail time. this is a child! she will be emotionally scared by this for the rest of her life. Her so called mother will get out and she would have to face the lady again? That little girl needs love in her life. I can not even began to imagine what is going on in her little head right now. Real mothers do not harm their children. They protect them , kiss "boos, boos" and tell them it will be alright. I agree that these ,lower life scums should not reproduce. i think the first time a parent is called on by authorities , you should loose your right to reproduce any more off spring. Maybe not, it won't happen but I am so sadden by this whole thing.

think4urself
11-22-08 3:00 PM
Her fellow inmates will just love her won't they? I seriously doubt that this is the only abuse this poor girl has suffered at her mother's hands and I hope they give her the maximum she can get. Women like this need to be fixed so they can't have any more children to subject this sort of crazy abuse on.

TheRealityPolice
11-22-08 12:46 PM
At least the teacher was alert and reported it. If this is not the first time the kid has been burned, then why has it not been reported before??? Or it HAS and the DHHR has ignored it?

susanTtalker
11-22-08 11:52 AM
This story makes me want to cry. And this monster (I won't call her mother, because she's NOT) should go to prison for the rest of her miserable life.

Mom2three
11-22-08 10:46 AM
More charges should be placed upon this woman as authorities find evidence of other burns on this little girl's body. This isn't the first time this sweet little girl has been burned.

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