A mother was arrested after prosecutors say she beat her child, who is younger than 13, with a belt and left the child covered in welts throughout her body in Zion.
The Zion Police Department responded around 8:30 p.m. on March 20 to the 2000 block of Gideon Avenue in Zion for a report of child abuse.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis said officers spoke with the 911 caller, who reported that a child showed up at her doorstep without a jacket and had welts on the girl’s arms and face.
Officers spoke to the child, who was under the age of 13, who said that her mother, identified as Elian Mendoza-Hernandez, 37, of Zion, got into an argument.
The child was in the shower at the time and Mendoza-Hernandez began striking the child repeatedly with a cord, Theis said.
It resulted in the child falling in the shower and striking the back of her head.
Officers spoke with Mendoza-Hernandez, who said that the child was in the basement shower and had been disrespectful all day, Theis said.
Mendoza-Hernandez said the child threw a bucket of water on her, causing the woman to retrieve a belt and go back to the basement and strike the child multiple times.
The child fled the house for help and Mendoza-Hernandez realized her daughter was missing but did not call the police out of fear of getting into trouble, Theis said.
Officers observed the child to have welts and scratches covering both legs from the knee to the ankle, as well as welts on her arms and a welt on her face, Theis said.
The child also had a visible bump on the back of her head. Theis said Mendoza-Hernandez had no obvious injuries or red marks on her body.
“This defendant lost her temper and the minor paid the price. The reporting officer said the victim’s legs were covered from the knees to the ankles with welts and scratches from the beating. The victim’s arms and face also had welts,” Theis said.
The Department of Children and Family Services was called and enacted an emergency plan for removing the victim from the home.
Mendoza-Hernandez was arrested and charged with aggravated battery to a child under 13 and two counts of domestic battery.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Mendoza-Hernandez pending trial.
Lake County Judge Christopher Lombardo denied the petition during a detention hearing and placed her on pre-trial monitoring.
Mendoza-Hernandez is scheduled to appear in court again on April 15 for a status of preliminary hearing.