Mom Charged In Alleged Horrific Child Abuse Case

By Mary Robb Jackson

CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A Washington County woman is facing a list of charges related to the alleged disturbing abuse of her adopted daughter.

According to the criminal complaint, Rana L. Cooper, 46, was charged on Monday.

The arrest came after police were notified in May by Washington County Children and Youth Services.

Cooper is accused of forcing the child to eat used cat litter, attempting to gouge the girl’s eyes out and trying to sew her mouth shut.

The complaint also claims Cooper choked the child until she blacked out on two occasions.

She is also accused of striking the girl in the face with a belt buckle and causing hearing loss by shoving a Q-tip in her ear.

Cooper allegedly forced the child to run her finger along the rim of the toilet and eat what was on her finger.

The girl told police she was only allowed to eat one time per day, but only after the rest of the family had finished their meal.

However, the woman’s 24-year-old son Ronnie says the allegations aren’t true.

“Nothing, none of that happened,” he said. “Like, I’m here every day, like, none of these are true.”

Cooper is facing a long list of charges including, endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault.