Mother charged with child abuse

A mother has been charged with child abuse after taking her toddler to the hospital.

Brittany Chenault, 24, of Farmington, has been charged with the Class B felony of child abuse. Her bond is set at $250,000.

According the probable cause statement, Chenault took the 2-year-old child to a local hospital for a head injury on Feb. 10. She told hospital staff that the child had hit his head on a coffee table while another family member was caring for the child the day before. 

Staff noticed a “multitude of bruising” on his body. Chenault told staff the toddler was clumsy. 

Due to the extent of his injuries, he was transferred to St. Louis Children’s Hospital where more than 70 separate skin injuries, including bruising and abrasions, were reported.

On Feb. 23, Chenault told police that she gets agitated with her children and admitted to hitting the toddler when she gets mad at him.

Her two other children, who are under the age of 6, were interviewed by a forensic investigator with the Children’s Advocacy Center. They said Chenault had struck the toddler using her hand and a belt on multiple areas of his body.

Chenault