REDMAN

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Devan Noel Redman, accused in the abuse of a 4-year-old girl, pleaded guilty Tuesday before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Frank Fregiato.

Redman, 25, of Neffs is facing up to eight years in prison for endangering children, a felony. Her sentencing is set for Jan. 28.

Redman and Misty Dawn Glasgow, 36, of Bellaire have both pleaded guilty to endangering children in the case. Glasgow’s sentencing is set for Jan. 14.

The women abused a girl left in their care by the child’s homeless mother. Deputies served a search warrant Oct. 4 at 53940 Pike St., Neffs, where the women lived at the time. Belmont County Prosecutor Dan Fry said the state believes all of the crimes occurred at that location.

Police arrested Redman and Glasgow after the child’s mother took the girl to Belmont Community Hospital’s emergency room for treatment. The child reportedly had multiple old and new bruises all over her body, along with multiple burn marks.

Fry said that devices seized at the Neffs residence are still being held for examination at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and it is possible the contents could lead to further charges.

“They were charged with child endangerment for basically physically abusing the child. The little girl was four years old at the time. She had extensive bruising all over her body — burn marks on her body,” Fry said. “The abuse we’re talking about is physical abuse. We did execute a search warrant and retrieve electronic devices that are still being looked at. … If it were to turn out that there was some evidence on those devices indicating sexual abuse of some nature, then obviously additional charges would be filed.”

Fry said the abuse took place between Sept. 11 and Oct. 4, when the child’s mother picked her up.

“As far as we can tell, the child was dropped off on or about Sept. 11 to the two defendants,” he said, adding that the mother indicated she was in the process of being evicted and needed to locate another residence.

“That’s when the child was, as far as we know, solely in the custody of the two defendants.”

He added that the crime seems senseless.

“It’s just horrific what this little girl was put through. When we first reviewed the case up until now, one of the main questions was, Why? Why would you do this to a 4-year-old? Why would you bruise a 4-year-old? What was motivating them to what appears to be continuous abuse over that 30-day period of time? We don’t know that and probably never will know that.”

Department of Job and Family Services Director Vince Gianangeli said the girl is back with family.