Woman arrested in child abuse investigation

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Bowling Green woman is facing several charges after two children reportedly jumped out of their window and tracked down a postal worker for help.

According to a citation by the Bowling Green Police Department, two children carrying backpacks and pillows tracked down a postal worker Friday and asked that she help them and their sibling.

Authorities say the children told police that Melinda Smith would often hit and choke them. One juvenile told police that they tried to report the abuse a year ago, and Smith locked the child outside in the snow as punishment, according to the citation.

The citation further states Smith claims the accusations are not true.

When police entered the home, they say there were no sheets or blankets on a child’s bed. There was also dog feces scattered across the floor and on top of a child’s clothes, the citation states.

Smith, 33, of Bowling Green was taken to the Warren County Detention Center, where she faces charges of first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under, first-degree strangulation and endangering the welfare of a minor.

The children have since been placed with a relative, according to authorities.