Warrensburg woman charged with alleged child abuse

Photo by Ashley Wallender

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Warrensburg, Missouri, woman has been charged with alleged child abuse.

Prosecutors in Johnson County, Missouri, charged Ashley Wallender last week with first-degree domestic assault, child abuse or neglect and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to court documents, on June 27, Warrensburg police officers went to a home in connection with an investigation into the abuse of a child under the age of one.

According to court documents, when officers arrived at the scene, they saw the victim had extensive bruising in various stages of healing and a mark consistent with a cigarette burn on his thigh.

Wallender said the child had not been feeling well, had been vomiting, and had made an appointment that morning but could not go because there was no transportation. It was later confirmed that Wallender had not called or shown up for the appointment, according to court documents.

She said the child had fallen off a bed that was 5 feet tall two days earlier and that caused the bruising.

When asked about the child’s scratches and cuts, Wallender said a vase had broken on the floor and she had to dodge several small pieces of glass while cleaning up, according to court documents. Wallender agreed to take the child to a hospital for evaluation.

At the hospital, court documents say, medical personnel noted extensive bruising on the child, as well as three burn marks, two bite marks and several puncture wounds on the soles of the child’s feet. The child was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital for a full screening.

Staff at the scanning clinic at Children’s Mercy contacted investigators and informed them that the child had been diagnosed with physical abuse.

Court documents say Wallender denied any knowledge of physical abuse of the child and further stated that she believed the bruises she saw were caused by a fall from a bed. When asked about other bruises and marks on the child’s body, she denied seeing anything else and was adamant that she did not cause the injuries.

Wallender was jailed with bail set at $50,000. She appeared in court on Wednesday, July 3, where a not guilty plea was entered.