Port St. Lucie woman arrested after boy found with injuries

By Will Greenlee

PORT ST. LUCIE — A 52-year-old woman was arrested after a 12-year-old boy was found with injuries that could have been caused by being hit with an extension cord, according to records released Thursday and a police spokesman.

Beverly Jean Hutchings-Watts, of the 1100 block of Southwest Estaugh Avenue, was arrested Wednesday on a felony aggravated child abuse charge.

The boy had “lineal bruises” on his back, legs and abdomen and what looked to be “pick marks” on his abdomen. He said he’d been beaten with an extension cord.

Hutchings-Watts told police she disciplines the boy with a belt and showed police two that she used, but an investigator reported they would not have left the type of marks observed. Hutchings-Watts, listed as unemployed, wouldn’t say that anyone used an extension cord.

The boy made allegations against another person, including that the person put socks over or in his mouth held in place with tape while the person disciplined him.