PANAMA CITY — A woman who allegedly burned her daughter with lit cigarettes as punishment had taken the child without permission, the child’s father alleged Thursday.
About 20 days before Craig Keefer, of Indiana, was able to take his daughter back into custody, he said his former wife, 28-year-old Brandon Keefer, took the child without permission. When the child was back in the father’s custody, he said he noticed several cigarette burns on the child’s behind, which had been used as a form of punishment, he said.
“Mommy said spankings don’t work, so she put cigarettes out on me,” the girl told him.
“I broke down in tears, because she didn’t run up screaming that she’d been hurt,” Craig Keefer said. “She said it like it was a normal occurrence.”
He then approached Indiana law enforcement to file a complaint, and Brandon Keefer was arrested Monday on a charge of aggravated child abuse.
Brandon Keefer could not be reached for comment. She posted a $5,000 bond Wednesday and was released from the Bay County Jail.
An Indiana officer contacted the Panama City Police Department with the information Jan. 27. The child’s father had brought the girl into the Scherville, Indiana, Police Department earlier to report being abused by Brandon Keefer between Dec. 1 and 23 when the child was in Bay County on Christmas break, officers reported.
The Indiana officer noted several injuries on the child’s body consistent with being burned with a cigarette, including burns on the child’s behind, PCPD said.
Craig Keefer told police that he’d initially arranged for the child to be transported to Florida by Brandon Keefer, but, after staying one night over at her house, the girl was supposed to remain in the custody of his mother in Callaway until Christmas.
At the beginning of December, however, Brandon Keefer picked up the child and eluded the family for about 20 days, Craig Keefer said. Brandon Keefer also eluded authorities, according to warrants issued for her arrest. She also gave police the mother of Craig Keefer’s South Gay Avenue address as her own while she stayed with a boyfriend in Panama City.
Craig Keefer said he regretted allowing Brandon Keefer knowledge of the child’s whereabouts.
“We shouldn’t have allowed them to stay with her,” he said.
Brandon Keefer was ordered to not have contact with the child as a term of her release.