A Jefferson City man and woman have each been charged with one count of child abuse.
As of Monday, Luther Thomas, 28, and Dmitra Price, 24, were each being held in the Cole County Jail on $100,000 bond.
Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statements show officers were called to a residence in the 100 block of East Atchison Street on Friday for a report of what sounded like a "belt" being used and children and parents yelling at each other.
When officers arrived, they heard a loud "smack or slap" and a child screaming.
Officers witnessed Price grab the victim, a 5-year-old girl, by her hair and throw her down to the ground in an angry manner.
When officers knocked on the door of the residence, they placed Price under arrest.
Price later admitted she had let her emotions take control and she "went too far."
Officers took photos of the victim and found she had significant bruising on her back, a black eye, bruising on her forehead and numerous scars on her body that were consistent with cigarette burns. The child was taken to a local hospital, where doctors found a total of 25 such burns.
A 7-year-old sibling was present at the time of this incident, and several cigarette burns were also found on this child.
In an interview with authorities, Price admitted to "five or six separate incidents where she had thrown the 5-year-old victim down on the ground" in anger.
Price also admitted to using both a belt and a shoe as a weapon and striking the child on the back.
After further questioning, Price admitted her husband, Thomas, has had to stop her from striking the child in the past.
She went on to say she has coached the children not to say anything if anybody asks about their injuries.
Price admitted to causing physical injuries to the 5-year-old, but denied making the cigarette burns.
She implicated Thomas, saying she had to stop him from using excessive force against the children.
When questioned, Thomas denied causing any injuries to the children and said he did not know where the cigarette burns came from.
The child was questioned at the hospital and told investigators, "I don't know what they are, but when Dad (Thomas) is with me is when I get them and it happens when I am in trouble."