West Virginia – In a deeply unsettling incident in West Virginia, a 40-year-old woman, identified as R. Bailey, is facing a felony child abuse charge after charging at her 5-year-old daughter and assaulting her in a horrific manner. Authorities say that Bailey forcefully opened her daughter’s jaw and ripped out two of her teeth while shouting that the child “had a demon in her” and holding a cross in her hand.
The incident took place last week inside a residence. Deputies with the sheriff’s office responded to the home on Thursday following a disturbing call reporting possible child abuse in progress. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the household and quickly began a preliminary investigation. According to the department’s official statement, the deputies found that Bailey had allegedly pinned her daughter down and yanked out two of her lower front teeth, an act that resulted in immediate and visible injury.
A witness who was inside the home during the incident told law enforcement that Bailey could be heard shouting “she had a demon in her” as she attacked her daughter. The witness also reported that Bailey was holding a cross during the assault, which she appeared to be using as part of the delusional behavior. Fortunately, another family member who had been sleeping in the home at the time was awakened by the child’s screams and the general commotion. That person, who has not been publicly named, quickly intervened and remained with the girl while contacting authorities.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they detained Bailey on suspicion of felony child abuse and transported her to jail for booking. Authorities have not disclosed whether any tools or instruments were used in the tooth extraction, and further details remain unclear pending additional investigation. Emergency Medical Services and Child Protective Services were immediately dispatched to the scene following Bailey’s arrest. The 5-year-old girl was examined for injuries and later released into the custody of another responsible family member. She is now reportedly safe and receiving care.
In their statement, Sheriff F. Priddy and Chief Deputy F. Shelton extended their thanks to the family member who stepped in and helped protect the child, as well as to responding deputies for their swift and decisive action. “Their quick thinking and thorough investigation are exactly what we strive for in protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,” the sheriff’s office said. Court records show that Bailey was formally charged with one count of felony child abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in position of trust resulting in bodily injury — a serious offense under West Virginia law. She is currently being held on $50,000 bond.
Bailey’s preliminary court hearing is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on June 30 before Judge G. Tanner. It remains unclear whether mental health evaluations will be part of the court’s considerations moving forward, though the religious overtones and disturbing nature of the incident may prompt further psychological assessments. As of now, no motive beyond Bailey’s claims of the child being possessed has been identified, and investigators have not stated whether any substances or mental illness may have played a role. The case remains under investigation.
