Police: Women poured hot sauce in boy's eyes as punishment
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A mother and her friend jailed on suspicion of duct-taping a teenage boy, forcing him to inhale marijuana and pouring hot sauce in his eyes as punishment could face additional child-abuse charges in an ongoing investigation, police in a Salt Lake City suburb said Thursday.
"This is not discipline that any child should have to go through," West Valley Police Sgt. Jason Hauer said. "It's definitely abuse."
The 14-year-old boy has been returned to his father's custody, Hauer said.
The mother, Robin Willette Rumsey, and her friend, Krista Jean Miller, were arrested Tuesday on multiple felony child abuse and endangerment charges.
Rumsey, 38, and Miller, 33, began a pattern of abuse against the boy two years ago, Hauer said.
Early on, he was punished for breaking a glass dish by having Tabasco sauce poured into his eyes, according to a probable cause statement used to hold the women at the Salt Lake County jail.
On other occasions, the women tried to force the boy to smoke marijuana, poured alcohol over his face, and held him in a basement.
Rumsey and Miller were living together in a house owned by Miller's mother, who says she evicted them for failing to pay rent and moved back Monday into the house.
Marsha Christensen said she didn't believe the allegations against her foster-daughter, Miller.
"No, she was not raised this way," she told KSL-TV.
Christensen said she believes the child abuse allegations were fabricated as part of a custody battle over the child.
Hauer said investigators have no information on a custody fight.
"This case is full of mysteries. There are a lot of questions coming up that I don't have answers to, mostly because the case is still active," Hauer said Thursday. "The arrests made two days ago with Krista and Robin are probably just the beginning of other allegations that are going to come to light in this case."
The case has been under investigation for six months, he said.
No court records were available online in the case, and it wasn't clear if Rumsey or Miller had lawyers.
"This is not discipline that any child should have to go through," West Valley Police Sgt. Jason Hauer said. "It's definitely abuse."
The 14-year-old boy has been returned to his father's custody, Hauer said.
The mother, Robin Willette Rumsey, and her friend, Krista Jean Miller, were arrested Tuesday on multiple felony child abuse and endangerment charges.
Rumsey, 38, and Miller, 33, began a pattern of abuse against the boy two years ago, Hauer said.
Early on, he was punished for breaking a glass dish by having Tabasco sauce poured into his eyes, according to a probable cause statement used to hold the women at the Salt Lake County jail.
On other occasions, the women tried to force the boy to smoke marijuana, poured alcohol over his face, and held him in a basement.
Rumsey and Miller were living together in a house owned by Miller's mother, who says she evicted them for failing to pay rent and moved back Monday into the house.
Marsha Christensen said she didn't believe the allegations against her foster-daughter, Miller.
"No, she was not raised this way," she told KSL-TV.
Christensen said she believes the child abuse allegations were fabricated as part of a custody battle over the child.
Hauer said investigators have no information on a custody fight.
"This case is full of mysteries. There are a lot of questions coming up that I don't have answers to, mostly because the case is still active," Hauer said Thursday. "The arrests made two days ago with Krista and Robin are probably just the beginning of other allegations that are going to come to light in this case."
The case has been under investigation for six months, he said.
No court records were available online in the case, and it wasn't clear if Rumsey or Miller had lawyers.
To be honest I cannot read this story!! I say simply...Put her to death!!! She does not need to be here amongst society!! She lost her Privileges
Lock these women up, and give them a horseradish enema every day they're in jail. I'm so sick of reading about scumbags like this doing heinous things to kids, that I think I may be becoming a fan of torture. People like THESE women, deserve to suffer.
That poor kid. I inadvertently got Serrano pepper liquid in my eye while making salsa and it hurt like hell even after five minutes of flushing with water. I can't imagine someone, especially a mother, putting hot sauce in their child's eyes. Sick and sadistic.
Nothing says love like hot sauce in the eyes.
Sorry, but I think these 2 lovely's deserve jail time. I hope someone pours hot sauce in their eyes.
Another wonderful mother. Some people should never have children......
So this same sex couple didn't turn out quite as expected.
"The 14-year-old boy has been returned to his father's custody"
I'm not drawing conclusions, but am wondering why this teenager would have endured 2 years of abuse instead of seeking safety with his father. Â Â
@Opus8no5 He may not have had any choice in the matter. Mothers are routinely given custody unless some majorly grievous charges against her can be PROVEN in court.Â
@Furd @Opus8no5 Not sure about Utah, but in WA, mothers are viewed as the "primary caregiver", evidence to the contrary be damned. The mother has to practically kill the child to change that view from the courts.
@whenudieitsdone @dg54321Good for your ex for being a part of your child's life. Many kids do not get to have both parents in their life. You choose a great man to be the father of your kid(s).
@dg54321   NOT TRUE!!!!!! THAT'S A DAMN LIE. I went through a divorce and my lawyer told me I had zero chance of getting full custody since my husband was just as much an involved parent as I am and my ex would have fought me in court for 50/50 an would have won since he was just as much a caring parent as I am. Also when you do your parenting plan it's required to list out a primary caregiver but means absolutely nothing, nada, zip, zilch in WA state! Only time mother is seen as primary caregiver is when the father doesn't ask for 50/50 ----
@dg54321 @Furd @Opus8no5 Having been through the court system on divorce and custody, I agree with what you say. I have to be the most fortunate woman in the world that my ex and I have maintained a very good co-parenting relationship. I do not understand the women that do this to the father of their children. I cannot fathom my child not having a relationship with her father. I wish it would change. There are a lot of really great dads out there who are suffering because of some vengeful woman looking for payback.
just because someone wasn't "raised that way" doesn't mean much. Some people are simply born sadistic. Could be why they're investigating it--because while some 14 year olds are liars, some aren't. Just like adults.
So far these are only allegations. Don't string her up before the facts are in. 14 yo's can do some awful damage in the fabrication dept.Â
@achoo2Â I find it hard to believe that a 14 year old would LIE about having hot sauce poured in his eyes. I have had it in my eyes when a bottle broke, it feels like your skull is on fire.Â
If these allegations are true and the mother truly did this then throw the book at her! Parents that abuse their children make me SICK! The 14 year old boy should have beat his mom's arse.
"The 14-year-old boy has been returned to his father's custody, Hauer said."...makes me wonder why he wasn't in the father's custody to begin with.
I have heard of hot sauce in the mouth when the child curses, but in the eyes? That type of trauma can cause a number of different issues. Sad, I hope the child can recover from this abuse.
@aintno1special When I cursed it was the old Ivory soap bar in my mouth.