Police: Couple beat girl with belt

AVON, Ind. - Avon police say one couple went too far in disciplining their child. When they were arrested Monday, the couple told detectives they knew what they were doing was wrong.

Police accuse Jennifer Davidson and her boyfriend Larry Hensley of beating Davidson's three-year-old daughter with a leather belt. The couple is accused of administering the beatings after smoking marijuana.

The incident apparently started after the toddler lied about kicking covers off her bed.

"He knew the three-year-old was lying and spanked her until she told the truth," said Avon Police Department Detective Sean Stoops.

Police said, a few days after the beating, the couple took the child to a scheduled doctor's appointment. The doctor found serious bruising on both sides of the girl's body, from the top of her chest down to her ankles.

"At one point, she didn't want to leave the hospital. She wanted to go home with the doctor," said Detective Stoops.

24-Hour News 8 tried to speak with the Davidson and Hensley, but they declined an interview. The pair confessed to police the abuse had been going on for at least two years.

Dr. Cortney Demetris at the Children's Hospital at St. Vincent warned that the kind of abuse that Hensley and Davidson are accused of could lead to serious injury and even death.

Doctors actually recommend against any form of spanking, with or without a belt.

At St. Vincent, they formed a special child abuse protection team. Doctors say they see at least 30 cases of child abuse every month. The team is working to reduce that number by telling parents about other ways to discipline their kids.

"Parents who focus on maintaining a positive relationship with their children, that's a good starting point. Having a good relationship allows the child to want to please the parent," said Dr. Demetris.

The three-year-old's older sister didn't show any signs of abuse. Both children are in foster care right now. Hensley and Davidson are out of jail on $5,000 bond. They're facing battery, neglect of a dependent and possession of marijuana charges.