Jefferson City woman held on $100,000 bond for child abuse

A Jefferson City woman is charged with 2 counts child abuse after officers saw her throwing a 5-year-old girl to the ground by her hair.

Neighbors called police when they heard children and parents yelling. The caller told police that it sounded like a belt was being used.

Court documents said 24-year-old Dmitria Price was arrested Friday after officers responded to her home at 116 East Atchison Street Apartment B.

Price told officers she was disciplining the girl, but said she let her emotions take control and she “went too far.”

Officers took pictures of the victim, noting significant bruising all over her body, including a black eye and scars on her body that were consistent with cigarette burns.

A 7-year-old child was also at the home during the incident, and both children were taken to the hospital for well-being checks.

Doctors determined the 5-year-old had more than 25 cigarette burns, and the the 7-year-old also had several burns.

Price admitted to police that she had thrown the 5-year-old 5-6 times, and has used a belt or a shoe to hit the child in the back.

Price told police that her husband has tried to stop her from hurting the children, and she taught the children to not say anything if asked about their injuries.

Price admitted to hitting and throwing the 5-year-old, but said she had no knowledge of the cigarette burns.

Price is being held in the Cole County Jail on $100,000 bond.