Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano, Cape May, New Jersey mom arrested on child abuse charges forcing their elementary aged child to wear electric dog shock collar who they would shock ‘when she did not listen.’
A New Jersey mother has been arrested on child abuse charges after she allegedly forced her daughter to wear a shock collar that once belonged to the family’s dead dog.
Kimberly Cruz-Feliciano, 30, was taken into custody on Tuesday after her child allegedly showed up to Cap May City Elementary School with ‘visible marks on their body’ the day before, according to 6 ABC.
Cruz-Feliciano’s mother Sonia Feliciano, 59, was also arrested on obstruction charges.
Used electric dog collar to shock child ‘when she would not listen’
The child allegedly had to wear the electric dog collar while they were at home and would receive shocks every time the girl would upset her mother, the outlet reported.
Cruz-Feliciano, who was born in Puerto Rico, kept the collar charged after their family dog died and stored it in a drawer with the late pet’s other belongings.
She also allegedly threatened the child with more violence if the girl told anyone, prosecutors said.
‘We take all allegations of child abuse with the utmost seriousness, and we will continue to ensure that those responsible for such heinous acts are held fully accountable under the law,’ Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland said in a released statement.
Police say the mother admitted abusing her daughter along with saying she would shock the child ‘when she did not listen.’ The mother is alleged to have asked her mother to dispose of the collar following police investigations.
Cruz-Feliciano was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault and hiding evidence and is being held at Cape May County Correctional Center.
The child’s grandmother was charged with tampering with evidence and hindering.
Following those charges, the grandmother, who witnessed the abuse, was released from custody ahead of her court dates, according to 6 ABC.
Neighbors who claimed having no idea what was going on at the household were left dumbfounded.
‘It’s just sad. I hate to hear something like that, I really do,’ one neighbor told 6 ABC.
‘And it’s right here in the neighborhood, and I did not know that,’ another told the outlet.
