Officials say the New Jersey mother is accused of child abuse after allegedly having her primary school child wear an electric shock dog collar.
Kimberly Cruz Feliciano – 30-year-old Cape May – was arrested on March 18th. Prison Records.
The child was “forced to wear shock colours all the time around the house.”
Cruz-Feliciano was charged with two double attacks, double attacks, two counts that put the welfare of a child at risk, one count first-degree witness tampering with a threat of force and 3rd-degree obstruction of one count.
The mother was taken into custody at Cape May County Correctional Center.
Additionally, the 59-year-old Sonia Feliciano, the grandmother of the child, is said to have witnessed allegedly child abuse. She was arrested and accused of obstructing and tampering with evidence. She was released withholding future court proceedings.
Authorities say the child arrived at a primary school in Cape May with “visible traces on their bodies.”
On March 17, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit and the Cape May Police Department began a joint investigation into alleged child abuse.
The Cape May County Prosecutor's Office press release“A further investigation revealed that Mark was the result of an electric dog's impact collar, prompting immediate and decisive action from law enforcement.”
Citing criminal charges, WPVI-TV The child reported that he was “forced to wear a shock collar all the time in the house,” and the dog shock collar was used “when the child upset Cruz Feliciano.”
The impact collar is said to have been used by family dogs before the animal died. However, the electric collar was “regularly billed” after the dog died, according to court documents.
Investigators said Cruz Feliciano threatened the child with “more violence if they reveal ongoing abuse.”
When police interviewed Cruz Feliciano, the mother said she admitted child abuse and had her mother disposed of the dog's shock collar.
Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland said, “This case highlights the continued dedication of law enforcement to protect the most vulnerable members of our community. We will take all child abuse claims to the fullest and seriously, and we will continue to ensure that those responsible for such heinous conduct are fully ordered under the law.”
Neighbors told WPVI that authorities had been called to the house in the past. “It's just sad. I don't want to hear such things. I really do.
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