UPDATED: Duct-taped baby pic stuns police
A Chester Township woman showed police a photo of her 2-year-old daughter -- wrapped tightly in duct tape -- to prove she was a victim of identify theft. Police are now deciding whether to charge her with child abuse.
UPDATED: Duct-taped baby pic stuns police
William Bender
Last week, Chester Township mother Caira Ferguson showed police this photo of her 2-year-old daughter to prove she was a victim of identity theft, according to police. Now they're looking into filing child-abuse charges.
Ya think?
Ferguson, 21, who lives in the township's Toby Farms section, was taken into custody today on outstanding warrants, says Chester Township Police Chief Ken Coalson. But investigators believe any potential child abuse occurred in Nether Providence. Police there are interviewing Ferguson right now.
"She contacted us for an alleged identify theft and brought that picture," Coalson said. "When we looked at the picture, we were thinking to ourselves, 'Well, what you're showing us here, we want to look into that.'"
The photo of the girl was posted on MediaTakeOut.com and received 337,000 hits before it was removed, Coalson said.
“It's heart-wrenching," he said. "Even if it was a joke, even if they were just clowning around. Try taking the tape off. It does look like it was tightly wrapped. I'm sure she wasn't too happy.”
Update: Ferguson has admitted to taping her daughter to the chair and has been charged with unlawful restraint, endangering the welfare of a child and related offenses, according to Nether Providence police. She is awaiting her arraignment.
Update, 6:25 p.m.: Ferguson was arraigned this evening by video conference and is being held without bail, which is more typical of murder cases than child endangerment cases.
"I feel she's a danger to her child," said Brookhaven Magisterial District Judge Walter McCray. "Her lawyer can petition Media if they want bail. I don't do it very often, but she's going to jail."
Probably drawing from Social Security as well and hasn't paid in a cent.— EagleBob
Boo Cocky....Too funny.
Chester carseat.- Genius move to show this photo to prove identify theft.....now this unfit mother can go where she belongs (jail) and the kid can be removed from this environment.— Tar Heel 1
- Toby Farms AKA norph Philly.— USAFirst1
Comment removed.- Just preparing for the electric chair...Never too young to start....— elfman
- Let's discuss again why sterilization is unlawful????? Here's just one example of it's necessity. Disgusting!!!!! Oh yes, this child will someday become a happy and productive member of society w/ a clear understanding of self sufficiency, kindness, politeness, respect for authority and anxious to be educated................— stoneman
- sick, just sick...— M60tanker
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- "She contacted us for an alleged identify theft and brought that picture,"..........i'm lost here, somebody help me. how would presenting THAT picture help you make the case that your identity had been stolen, even if it were true?
- Most of you are just as ignorant as this young mother! You dumb miserable F#&K&!— taycom
- Comment removed.
