I hate admitting this, but there have been times when I was so angry I needed to walk away from my 7-year-old son. I’ve never really been scared of physically hurting him, but I have feared exploding with my temper at him. Raising kids is beautiful and wonderful, but admittedly it can be extremely frustrating. They become their own defiant little people, and managing that is hard for every mom. One Indiana mother and her husband, however, were utterly incapable of containing their rage and, sadly, beat their daughter within an inch of her life over it.
Jennifer Revis, 33, initially told police the girl had a seizure after being bitten by the dog, but the reality was so much more harrowing. Authorities determined her unresponsive state was due to physical abuse, noting that she was covered in bruises and had significant brain damage.
She reportedly eventually admitted that the beating started after her young 7-year-old stepdaughter pushed her brother, according to The Mirror. An affidavit, reviewed by WXIN, noted Jennifer Revis couldn’t state exactly what happened to trigger the outburst, but she acknowledged that she took a hammer to her stepdaughter’s hands and feet while also slapping and punching her.
“I can’t tell right from wrong anymore. I see rage, bro. When she talks to me like that, I just see rage, and I don’t know, I just lost it,” the mother reportedly said. “She’s awful to deal with.” She also admitted to beating her two days prior as well.
The girl’s father, Ryan Revis, 28, told police he “chose not to intervene” despite seeing his daughter’s brutal injuries, fearing that authorities would take his other children or that his wife would take their twin boys away according to the Mercer County Outlook. Jennifer Revis, however, claims that he was actively part of their daughter’s abuse, saying he choked her and threw her against a wall.
Jennifer Revis was charged with neglect of a dependent causing catastrophic injury, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, aggravated battery posing a substantial risk of death, domestic battery with serious injury under 14, and domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, per the Outlook. Ryan Revis was charged with neglect of a dependent causing catastrophic injury. Both were held at the Blackford County Security Center.
Currently, the girl is alive but unresponsive in the ICU. Officials reportedly observed several circular bruises and abrasions on her right knee, multiple back bruises, a swollen right hand, and swollen face around her eyes. Doctors performed emergency procedures to relieve pressure on her brain but her recovery is still uncertain. She is on a ventilator.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
