Scott Co. parents charged with aggravated child abuse
Scott Co. parents charged with aggravated child abuse
August 3, 2004
By CATHARYN CAMPBELL
6 News Reporter
SCOTT COUNTY (WATE) -- A couple from Scott County are in jail on child abuse charges.
Monday night, Scott County deputies arrested 44-year-old Aaron Mann and his wife, 56-year-old Linda Mann.
The Manns are each charged with one count aggravated child abuse and neglect. Their arrests came after police received a tip from a neighbor.
Investigators are keeping a tight lip about the case, but say that when a child's injuries are severe enough, charges against the suspects are increased. Investigators say that's what happened Monday night.
A physician at an area hospital examined at least one of the children. After that, the charge of child abuse was raised to aggravated child abuse and neglect for both Aaron and Linda Mann.
Aaron and Linda Mann and their five adopted children live inside of a large home in Oneida.
Investigators say the family was well known for taking in abandoned animals, nursing them to health and finding them homes.
But neighbors say they've been concerned about the four young boys and the girl who lived at the home.
"We saw her plenty of times walking the dog in the rain or real late at night, 12:00 or 1:00 in the morning walking the dog," says the Mann's neighbor, Joanie.
Joanie lives up the street from the Manns. She says Monday night the couple's 14-year-old daughter came to her door calling out for help.
"I didn't know what to do 'cause I saw some of the places on her and I knew there was no way that she was going back to that house," Joanie says.
She says she then noticed a wound on the top of the girl's head and that's when she called police.
"It was a big place that was scabbed over and it just looked real bad, like someone grabbed her by the hair and pulled it out or someone hit her."
Detectives say at least one of the children was taken to the hospital. They aren't releasing details of the child's condition at this time.
They say a full investigation by the Department of Children's Services and the Scott County Sheriff's Department is under way.
"That happens a lot in these cases. You never see what's going on until somebody spills the beans and you start digging into it and a lot of times, you're surprised by what's going on," says Detective Robby Carson.
Officers say they're waiting to get a warrant to search the main home and what they describe as an elaborate air-conditioned doghouse.
They say they'll be looking for evidence that supports the child abuse allegations.
The five children are in state custody. They range in age from nine to 14-years-old.
Wednesday morning, Aaron and Linda Mann are scheduled to make their first appearance in court.
They're each being held at the Scott County jail Tuesday night on a $100,000 bond.