Kentucky mother charged after allegedly taping her children’s mouths shut

WAYNE COUNTY, Ky. – A Wayne County woman faces criminal charges after she allegedly duct-taped her children’s mouths shut.

Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron says deputies and officers with the Monticello Police Department responded to a report of a woman screaming at and yanking a child in the back parking lot of the Wayne County Judicial Center on Thursday.

Authorities conducted a traffic stop and found four children in the vehicle. Two of the children had duct tape over their mouths.

Sheriff Catron says the woman told officers she could “discipline her children however she wanted,” and that this wasn’t the first time she covered their mouths with duct tape.

Officers arrested Anna Bencosme, of Monitcello, and she is charged with two counts of first-degree strangulation (domestic violence), two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Bencosme was lodged at the Wayne County Detention Center.

The children were placed into the custody of their father.

Sheriff Catron says the case was referred to the Kentucky Department of Child Protection Cabinet.

The investigation is ongoing.