RICHMOND, KY – A Kentucky woman faces multiple child abuse charges after being accused by authorities of keeping her 10-year-old daughter confined inside a dog cage intermittently over a three-month period. The mother, 31-year-old Sheila Mann, was arrested on a series of counts, including strangulation, criminal child abuse, and unlawful imprisonment.

The Richmond Police Department responded to reports alleging cruel punishment imposed on the child. According to the authorities, from January through early March, the child was subjected to being caged like an animal and allowed out only to use the bathroom. In a detailed account, the young girl reported her mother also physically assaulted her, including an occasion where Mann strangled her with her hands and threatened her life.

Mann’s tactics of intimidation and control reportedly went beyond the confinement. Police statements suggest she also placed her child face-down on a kitchen floor, restrained her with twine, and applied pressure on her back by sitting on her. The girl, whose identity is withheld for legal reasons, experienced physical pain and difficulty breathing following the strangulation, a detail that further illuminated the severity of the abuse.

While confronting her charges, Sheila Mann has actively refuted the accusations. In an interview with a local news station, she declared her innocence, arguing that there had been a gross misunderstanding. Mann claimed she was the true victim in an incident that occurred elsewhere, vehemently denying having ever put her daughter in a cage and stressing her employment history in caretaking roles.

Despite her assertions, Mann’s daughter has been removed from her care. In the meantime, she finds solace with foster parents as the investigation and legal proceedings continue. Law enforcement officials are processing an open records request to disclose full details concerning the case.

Currently held on a $50,000 bond, Sheila Mann’s court arrangement is swiftly approaching. As she prepares to face the court, the community and legal system alike are grappling with the disturbing allegations of her behavior towards her underage daughter, awaiting justice in the unfolding case.