Mother charged too

A Willow Springs mother faces charges of child abuse and endangerment in connection with an investigation into her children's injuries. Howell County Sheriff's Office launched their investigation into the Mersman household when a six-month-old infant presented to Ozarks Healthcare on Aug. 26 with disfiguring dog bite wounds to his genital area. 
In the course of the investigation, the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged the father, Kevin Mersman, with a total of 12 counts of felony child abuse and assault. He posted bond on Aug. 28 and is expected to appear in court again on Oct. 17. 
The father's charges stemmed mostly from the beating abuse of a six-year-old female child in the home. While the parents were at the hospital with the injured infant, the girl and a male toddler were placed in the care of a babysitter. The babysitter contacted Children's Division and law enforcement after becoming concerned about the girl's numerous visible bruises. 
Authorities filed charges of abuse or neglect of a child and endangerment of the welfare of a child against the mother, Jacqueline Mersman, 38, of Willow Springs, on Sept. 15. In a probable cause statement filed by Lieutenant Torey Thompson of the HCSO, three witnesses provided information that led law enforcement to believe Jacquelyn knew her husband was abusive and neglectful to their children. 
These witnesses described filthy living conditions in the Mersman home with "dog feces on every surface." The children are alleged to have been left alone in their home. They are alleged to have been left with babysitters for weeks at a time because the mother "didn't trust Kevin to be alone with [the baby] because Kevin couldn't handle [his] crying."
Over and over, these witnesses told law enforcement Jacquelyn said she did not trust her husband with the children. 
"Based on information provided to me by [these witnesses] it was apparent Jacquelyn has been informed by multiple persons of multiple incidents of abuse of the minor children by Kevin Mersman, but continued to leave the children [in his care]," says the probable cause statement. 
Jacquelyn was arrested and released in August during the initial investigation, but was formally charged on Sept. 15. According to records obtained from the Howell County Jail, she was behind bars for 65 minutes on Sept. 20 before she posted a $10,000 bond.
This matter is set for a bond hearing before Judge Steven Privette on Oct. 3.
Content Paywall Trunction: 
Free

Howell County News

110 W. Main St.,
Willow Springs, MO 65793
417-252-2123

Comment Here