Authorities in South Carolina have charged a woman with cruelty to children after she allegedly recorded herself pouring water on her sleeping baby’s face and then posted it on Facebook, calling it “payback” for keeping her up at night.
On Saturday night, Caitlin Alyse Hardy filmed herself tipping a water bottle onto her sleeping 9-month-old daughter’s nose and mouth twice, causing her to wake up while coughing and sputtering, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The 33-year-old then allegedly posted the video to her Facebook page with the caption, “Payback for waking me up all kinda times of da night…” with three laughing emojis.
In a statement, the department said it investigated Hardy after seeing “disturbing images on a social media site.” Authorities arrested her Wednesday after issuing a warrant the day before, accusing her of causing “ill treatment, unnecessary pain and suffering, and/or deprivation of necessary sustenance” upon her infant.
In the 36-second clip, a woman can be heard laughing as she holds a bottle of Aquafina water over the baby’s cheek as she sleeps in her crib. The woman tips some water on her face and the little girl pops up and starts to cough and gasp, causing the woman to laugh harder. The infant, still asleep, turns back on her side and coughs again. A few second later, the hand spills more water directly onto the baby’s nose, startling her and causing her to jump up and cry.
The video went viral on Facebook after a group, “Where is baby Kate?,” posted it on Sunday with a picture of the mother’s profile and the number and link to the sheriff’s department.
Horrified, members of the group started contacting the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, posting their snapshots.
Sarah Flores, who lives in Maryland, said she saw the post through a friend. Describing the act as “horrid,” she said she was so upset she immediately contacted the school district, sheriff’s office, and social services, sending them links to the video.
“It just broke my heart and made really sad for her and that baby,” Flores, who says she has five children of her own, told BuzzFeed News on Wednesday. “Many risks stem from what she did and there is no excuse for her behavior and I was afraid if that’s how she treats her infant, I can imagine how she treats her school-aged kids.”
Sheriff Anthony Dennis said his office received a number of calls and communications from “concerned persons” about the video.
Officials charged the mother with cruelty to children and booked her at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. She was released Wednesday after posting a $1,500 bond, records show.
The mother of four, meanwhile, appears to have scrubbed her Facebook account. The social media company confirmed to BuzzFeed News that it didn’t “take any action” on the profile.
In 2014, Hardy was charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly violating the state’s law for properly securing and restraining a child while in a vehicle, according to court records.
Dennis told BuzzFeed News in a statement that his office, along with the Sumter County Department of Social Services, continues to investigate the matter and whether her three other children are in danger.
“It doesn’t take much, just someone speaking out,” Flores said. “I have custody of two of my step-kids because they were abused as well and it took awhile because no one really spoke out. No one should have to suffer, especially those who cannot defend themselves.”
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