Lexington grandmother charged with child abuse
LEXINGTON, Tenn. — A grandmother is charged with child abuse after officers say her grandchild shows up to school with signs of long-term abuse. Investigators said after a child’s authority figure saw marks on the face and neck they reported it to Department of Children’s Services. The child was then taken to a physician who found signs of abuse such as blunt-force trauma to the head and strangulation. “I feel hurt myself because I can’t imagine what that child went through,” neighbor Delorse Priddy said. She was surprised to hear her neighbor was charged. “I didn’t think it could happen in our neighborhood, so I didn’t believe it,” Priddy said. Tuesday, officers arrested the child’s grandmother, Linda Brewer. She is charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect. “I’m sure the child was confused and didn’t know what was going on,” Priddy said. “The grandparent is supposed to be the one person you can actually trust and rely on,” said Keith Lawrence, another neighbor. Delorse Priddy said this case makes her want to keep a closer eye on kids in her neighborhood. “I would ask the child what’s going on, what happened, and then I’d probably report it,” she said. Brewer was released from jail Tuesday after posting a $1,000 bond. The child is now in state custody.
