Clinton woman charged with child abuse was “angry” child couldn’t get coat on

A Clinton woman is facing child abuse charges after allegedly roughly grabbing a child in her care, according to Henry County court documents.

Ruth Ellen Rogers faces two counts of abuse or neglect of a child, according to court documents.

Two witnesses responded to the Clinton Police Department on Dec. 20, 2024 with a juvenile to report child abuse, according to a probable cause statement in support of Rogers’ arrest.

During an interview with police, the witnesses showed officers a video in which the child’s babysitter, identified as Rogers, allegedly grabbed the child by his neck/shoulder, according to court documents.

Rogers appeared to be angry when the child was struggling to put on his coat, according to the probable cause affidavit. The child was “visibly upset” after the incident.

Officers noted a pinch mark “approximately two inches long by a half-inch wide” near the child’s shoulder/collarbone area, according to court documents.

Rogers allegedly told both witnesses and officers that the injury was from a dog, according to court documents. In an interview with police, Rogers initially said she “only hooked the victim’s shirt with her finger.”

When officers explained that it was “clear” in the video that she had grabbed the child, Rogers said she believed officers if they said “that was what happened,” according to court documents.

Rogers said she “never meant to harm” the boy because she “thought the behavior was cute,” according to court documents.

Rogers is set to appear for an arraignment on July 11.