How Could You? Hall of Shame-Ronnie and Ashley Neal

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Mount Sterling, Kentucky, foster parents Ronnie and Ashley Neal “are charged with criminal abuse” for “pouring hot chocolate on her 10-month old foster child, causing severe burns.”

“Police say the investigation began after the reported hot chocolate incident at a McDonald’s in Winchester in November.

In that case, police say security camera video from inside the fast food restaurant showed Neal walking with a baby carrier against her chest and intentionally pouring the liquid on the child with her right hand. She then appeared to seemingly stage a fall before bracing herself, according to investigators.

Officers say the hot chocolate was around 150-degrees and caused extreme burns to the baby’s face.

The baby was listed in serious condition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, according to published reports.

The arrest citation says the foster father had his back turned and did not see the incident.

According to police, when interviewed, Neal told investigators she couldn’t remember what happened at the McDonald’s. She was arrested, but bonded out of jail the same day.

Deputies say the month-long investigation that followed showed the same foster child had sustained several injuries from abuse over multiple months. Investigators say the Neal’s didn’t get medical treatment for the child and in most cases covered up the injuries to prevent others, including Social Services, from seeing and reporting the alleged abuse to Law Enforcement.”

Mother accused of pouring hot chocolate on baby faces new abuse charge

[WTVQ 12/23/19 by Bobbi McSwine]

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