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TAYLORSVILLE — A Taylorsville boy listed as missing for four months was located this week. But police say they soon discovered that the boy had run away because of abuse by his mother who did such things as whip him with a rope.
Maria Clemente, 42, was charged in 3rd District Court Friday with three counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony.
The charges are the latest in a recent series of recent criminal investigations involving Utah parents accused of abusing their children.
In April, Clemente's 14-year-old son was reported as being a runaway and was listed on a national database as a missing person. On Tuesday, the school resource officer at Taylorsville High School contacted Clemente saying her son had been located, but she told the officer to just take him to detention, according to charging documents.
When interviewed by police, the teen said he ran away because Clemente abused him. He "described one event in which Clemente whipped his back with a rope until he bled," according to police, who said they were able to see scars on his back.
"On another occasion Clemente shoved a banana peel down his throat, impeding his ability to breathe," the charges allege. That incident was recorded by a friend on his cellphone.
"(The boy) stated that Clemente often hit and punched him and dragged him around the house by his hair. Clemente made (her son) sleep in the garage or on the trampoline," according to court documents.
Child abuse resources:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
Help with Children
Those who feel stressed out with a child, who need a break or who feel like they need counseling or training can reach out to one of the following agencies:
- The Family Support Center has 15 locations throughout the state and offers a free crisis nursery for parents who have to keep appointments or who are stressed out. They also offer counseling and family mentoring. Call 801-955-9110 or visit familysupportcenter.org/contact.php for more information.
- Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides home visiting in Weber, Davis, and Box Elder counties. Parent Educators provide support, education, and activities for families with young children. Their statewide education team offers diverse trainings on protective factors, digital safety, bullying, and child sex trafficking. They are available for in-person or virtual trainings and offer free online courses for the community at pcautah.org.
- The Office of Home Visiting works with local agencies to provide home visits to pregnant women and young families who would like to know more about being parents. Home visitors are trained and can provide information about breastfeeding, developmental milestones, toilet training, nutrition, mental health, home safety, child development, and much more. Find out more at homevisiting.utah.gov.
- The Safe Haven law allows birth parents in Utah to safely and anonymously give up custody of their newborn child at any hospital in the state, with no legal consequences and no questions asked. The child's mother can drop off the child, or the mother can ask someone else to do it for her. The newborns should be dropped off at hospitals that are open 24 hours a day. Newborns given up in this manner will be cared for by the hospital staff, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services will find a home for the child. For more information, visit utahsafehaven.org or call the 24-hour hotline at 866-458-0058.
