Kansas City, MO – A 39-year-old Missouri man, D. Pierse, was taken into custody and later charged with multiple charges, including child abuse, after reportedly beat his partner’s child by punching the girl in the head multiple times. The child, who was not identified due to her age, reportedly lost consciousness following the attack and the hospital doctors diagnosed her with a concussion. The 12-year-old was unable to maintain a proper balance, police officials said. The man reportedly beat the girl because she refused to do something he told her to. The 39-year-old defendant, who is now being held on $500,000 cash bond, is facing up to three decades behind bars if convicted.
This unfortunate incident occurred last week at the family’s home. Authorities responded to the location after the victim’s mom called 911 and told the dispatcher that her child lost consciousness after she was attacked by her husband. During an interview with investigators, the victim’s mom reportedly said that she was downstairs and her child was upstairs.
The woman also added that her partner reportedly told the child to clean her bedroom only for the 12-year-old to refuse. The man then told the victim’s mom to ‘handle this’ or he will. The defendant then went into the child’s room only to start hitting her in the head multiple times. Shortly after the attack, the defendant reportedly told the child that she is weak and ‘you’re fine’.
When the victim’s mom told her partner not to touch her child, the man reportedly pushed the woman. According to the mother, the child was screaming and breathing heavily following the attack. The girl was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with a concussion. The DA’s office released a statement saying that further medical testing showed the child had substantial injuries to her brain. The victim has to work with a physical therapist to regain motor functions, the outlet reported.
In seeking a $500,000 cash-only bond, Assistant Prosecutor Michael highlighted the defendant’s military background and PTSD diagnosis. “The defendant has been diagnosed with severe PTSD and is scheduled for admission to an intensive in-patient PTSD treatment center in Kansas on Dec. 30, 2024,” Michael wrote in the bond request form. “The defendant possesses specialized military training and poses a danger to himself and others.”