Haley Ryan (Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office).
An Ohio mother is behind bars after a video went viral on social media that appears to show her engaging in a serious case of child abuse, authorities in the Buckeye State say.
Haley Marie Ryan, 21, is accused of endangering children, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
The defendant was arrested on Wednesday afternoon after there were “multiple” complaints and “notifications” about the video in question, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
The sheriff’s office described the viral social media content as a “disturbing video of a mother yelling and hitting her child.”
Ryan was initially taken to jail while formal charges against her were pending. Since the defendants’ arrest, at least one charge has been filed against them. More charges may be in the pipeline.
“Disturbing is probably the only word that is appropriate,” Chief Deputy Matt Haines told Dayton-based CBS affiliate WHIO.
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In the footage, a woman is seen hunched over a crib, screaming loudly at the baby lying inside. Moments later, the woman rears up with at least one of her arms and appears to repeatedly hit something in the crib – presumably her little boy.
The video is hectic and blurry, and the frame rate doesn’t give a clear indication of the woman’s rapid movements. From the perspective of the footage, it’s also unclear to what extent the woman makes contact with the child – or if she does at all.
As the video ends, the woman storms off, and the person filming the scene appears to get up from a sitting or crouching position and then walks into the crib to check on the child. Police say the father’s child is behind the cellphone camera.
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The video has been shared and viewed thousands of times in various ways on various social media sites such as YouTube and TikTok.
These releases quickly led to public outrage.
“It was one of those things that literally went viral for all the wrong reasons,” Haines told the TV station. “We got calls from as far away as I know, at least Texas.”
According to authorities, the child in the footage is less than one year old.
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According to the sheriff’s office, the incident occurred a few days before the video was posted online in the baby’s father’s home in Harrison Township, a small community in the greater Cincinnati area.
“The investigation is still very active and open. We’re trying to determine whether anyone else should be charged,” Haines added. “And that includes whether there’s anything that can be done if someone either doesn’t step in or doesn’t come forward.”
The child is safe and in the care of the Montgomery County Children’s Services, law enforcement officials said.
Ryan is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $25,000 bail. The defendant is scheduled to appear in court on August 21.
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