Two Children Victims Of Horrific Abuse
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- Police in Springfield said a mother is in custody and her boyfriend is being sought in connection with the abuse of two children.
The childrens' mother,
24-year-old Heather Flaker, was charged with two counts of child endangering, tampering with evidence and obstructing official business. She is being held in the Clark County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
Police said a relative found Flaker's 5-year-old son running in the street with no supervision. They said he appeared to have been beaten.
Inside the house at 531 Chestnut Avenue, the child's aunt found Flaker's
2-year-old daughter strapped to a toilet. According to police, she also appeared to have been beaten.
Officers are searching for Flaker's boyfriend,
Marcus January, 29. He is wanted on two counts of child endangering and two counts of abduction.
The children were treated at Mercy Medical Center. Doctors told police that both children had signs of new and previous abuse. They were treated and released into the custody of Children's Services.
Investigators said Flaker admitted that her boyfriend was abusing the children, but she said she did not report it because she was afraid of him.
Lt. Noel Lopez of the Springfield Police said there is evidence of repeated abuse.
"They had bruising about the face, injuries to their backs, thighs and soles of their feet," said Lt. Lopez.
Neighbors on Chestnut Avenue are shocked. Robert Eldridge said, "It's upsetting someone would do something to a like kid like that."
Eldridge and other neighbors said they had no idea what was happening to the children. Emma Wolfcomer said, "Babies don't deserve to be beaten like that. They do something wrong, there's a correct way to punish them."
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