Alabama Parents Accused Of Beating With Belt, Tying Up Child Using Zip Ties

Two parents in Alabama have been accused of beating at least one of their young children and binding the child using duct tape and zip ties.

Markeith Dynard Jefferson, 35, and Briana Janice Butler, 30, were indicted in December for the alleged child abuse, court documents revealed Monday, reported news outlet AL.com.

Jefferson, of Helena, is charged with one count of aggravated child abuse and Butler, of Center Point, is charged with two counts.

Both Jefferson and Butler have been accused of beating the victim or victims using a belt and an extension cord, charging documents reveal. They reportedly tied the victim to the bed or door using duct tapes and zip ties.

The alleged abuse of victims aged 7 to 12 was investigated by the Jefferson County sheriff’s office, reported NY Post.

Jefferson is also accused of submerging a child under the water. The authorities believe that the alleged abuse happened on multiple occasions but no additional details have been revealed.

Jefferson was initially arrested on Aug.4, 2020, but was released from jail on a $20,000 bond. Butler was not arrested until the indictments were handed down. She was booked into Jefferson County Jail Thursday. Butler was released on the same day with $15,000.

The court records indicate that Jefferson was previously convicted for first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. His attorney did not respond to comment on the current child abuse charges, Al.com reported.

Butler did not have an attorney listed, according to the court records.

In a similar incident, the parents of a 15-year-old boy in Michigan have been accused of allegedly using shock collars and handcuffs to discipline their son. Jimmy Dale Blackwell Jr., 52, and Jennifer Lee Blackwell, 53, of Lexington were arrested last week on charges of felony intentional child abuse, inflicting serious injury. The parents have been accused of disciplining their teenager by restraining him with handcuffs on his ankles, attaching them to a piece of furniture at night and making him sleep on the hard floor. They were also accused of using shock collars made for dogs to restrain their son.