Inset: Mason Williams. Background: High Ridge, Missouri, neighborhood where Williams allegedly abused his girlfriend’s kids, ages 5 and 2 (KDSK).
Authorities in Missouri are actively searching for a 24-year-old man accused of mistreating his girlfriend’s children, a 5-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, as well as the family pet.
Mason Williams is facing multiple charges, including 11 counts each of child abuse, domestic assault, and child endangerment, in addition to animal abuse. As detailed in a probable cause arrest affidavit, the alleged mistreatment took place from April 16 to May 8 at their residence in High Ridge, near St. Louis.
According to the affidavit filed by deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the acts were recorded by a home video camera. The incidents begin with one involving the family dog, where Williams attempted to call the dog inside, but it failed to obey his commands.
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“I’ll f—ing snipe you in your God damn [inaudible],” Williams allegedly heard saying on the video.
As the dog runs past him, Williams grabs it by the neck and holds it down. The dog is heard yelping multiple times, deputies wrote. A witness told cops Williams threw the dog against a kitchen table, per the affidavit.
The first alleged abuse incident involving the children occurred on April 28. Williams angrily entered the boy’s bedroom and “aggressively picks up” the boy by his collar and repeatedly hit the boy on his backside, the affidavit said. The victim was “crying hysterically,” cops noted. Williams also nearly suffocated the girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter by shoving a cloth down her mouth.
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Other assaults occurred when the boy apparently wasn’t doing anything wrong such as watching TV or eating fruit, according to the affidavit. Cops said Williams repeatedly hit the boy in the backside during each assault.
“Victim 1 was screaming, crying and begging him not to be hit,” cops wrote.
During another incident, Williams allegedly grabbed the victim by his neck and started “violently shaking” his head while screaming at him to “f—ing stop.” The suspect then slammed the boy on a bean bag chair, the affidavit said.
On May 2, Williams allegedly held the boy upside down by the ankles, walked him to the window and threatened to throw him out. The suspect held the boy suspended in the air for several minutes while calling him derogatory names, deputies say.
Local NBC affiliate KDSK spoke with neighbors who were stunned by the allegations.
“You never know what goes on behind closed doors,” Debbie Weggenmen told the TV station. “That’s too bad. It’s really too bad. Makes me sad.”
Detectives said they were concerned that Williams may flee the country. As of Sunday he had yet to be arrested.
Anyone with information on Williams’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5000.
