Accusations of child abuse and strangulation of a 5-year-old child by a Kentucky woman.

In MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Kentucky, a 37-year-old woman has been indicted for allegedly continuously abusing and strangulating a 5-year-old child.

On February 13, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office released a statement regarding an investigation into possible child abuse. The investigation was initiated after a staff member at an elementary school noticed marks on a 5-year-old victim. For more information, please visit the original news release from the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office.

According to reports, the medical personnel at the school concluded that the marks on the individual were a result of abuse. They observed physical signs such as severe bruising, burst blood vessels, and other indications of mistreatment.

Afterward, the young child was taken to the hospital for medical care.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, after conducting interviews with the parents and other children living in the household, as well as executing search warrants on the residence and electronic devices and reviewing surveillance evidence, detectives determined that the child had been subjected to continuous abuse and strangulation.

On March 17, a grand jury was presented with evidence regarding Amber Patton’s alleged crimes of first-degree strangulation and first-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under. The Sheriff’s Office reported that Patton was subsequently indicted and taken into custody on March 21.

If found guilty of criminal abuse, the offender could face a sentence of 10 to 20 years behind bars. Similarly, the strangulation charge has the potential to result in five to 10 years of imprisonment.

The suspect’s relationship to the 5-year-old victim was not disclosed by the Sheriff’s Office.