A Jefferson City couple have been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after an incident that reportedly occurred Monday at the couple's home on Schott Road.
Victoria Zimmerman, 59, is charged with two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count each of child abuse and third-degree domestic assault.
Ivan Zimmerman, 67, is charged with one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
A state investigator contacted authorities about an investigation of a report of a 14-year-old boy with severe bruising allegedly caused by his mother, according to Cole County Sheriff's Department probable cause statements.
During an interview, the victim reportedly claimed Victoria was angry he had not turned in an assignment at school and accused him of lying. The victim said Victoria yelled and cussed at him before physically assaulting him. Authorities said the victim told them Victoria had hit him with a spatula and kicked, punched and slapped him. Investigators reported they found bruises on the victim's left arm, face and abdomen.
The victim said other relatives, including his father, Ivan, were present during the incident. He claimed Ivan had watched while Victoria hit him and said nothing.
The victim reportedly told authorities his older brother, who used to live in the home, had also been assaulted by Victoria and she had turned her attention to him after his brother left. He believed she would move on to his other brothers and sisters in the home if he were to leave.
Authorities talked to a sister of the victim who recounted the incident, reportedly giving similar details to what the boy had told investigators. The girl also said Ivan was present during the incident and tried to calm Victoria down.
When authorities talked with Ivan, he told investigators Victoria had gotten mad at the victim and "slapped him a little." Ivan also allegedly said Victoria had done such actions in the past with the children.
In talking about the latest incident, Ivan reportedly told authorities he didn't think what she did to the boy was appropriate, but Victoria was "just upset with him." When asked why he didn't do anything to protect the boy, Ivan told investigators he didn't realize how bad it was because he didn't see the bruises. Ivan also allegedly said he didn't stop Victoria from taking these actions because "she gets off on stuff like that."