Jefferson City woman sentenced in child abuse case

A Jefferson City woman has been ordered to serve a 120-day shock detention sentence for pleading to an amended charge in a child abuse case from August 2015.

Dmitra Price, 25, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. She had been charged with child abuse.

Officers were called to a residence in the 100 block of East Atchison Street for a report of what sounded like a belt being used and children and parents yelling at each other, according to Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statements.

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 to the ground. 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 consistent with cigarette burns. The child was taken to a local hospital, where doctors found 25 such burns.

A 7-year-old sibling was present at the time of the 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 using a belt and a shoe as weapons and striking the child on the back. She said 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.