Bowling Green woman charged with child abuse

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Bowling Green mother is behind bars facing multiple allegations of child abuse.

Bowling Green Police say they got a call from social services Friday after a 9-year-old showed up at school with a black eye.

According to a citation, the 9-year-old told officials his 13-year-old brother had punched him.

Polices say social services explained they had received a previous complaint that mentioned the child’s living conditions with no running water, which led officials to visit the home.

The citation further states the house of Patricia Gayden was reported to be under “extremely filthy and unsanitary living conditions” after police say Gayden agreed to let officers inspect the living complaint.

All four of Gayden’s children, three of whom are under the age of 12, in the household have been placed into protective custody, according to the Bowling Green Police Department.

Gayden, 37, of Bowling Green was arrested and is charged with three counts of first-degree child abuse of a child 12 or under and one count of first-degree wanton endangerment.

She remains in the Warren County Detention Center with a $20,000 bond.