Brenwyn Richey (Bingham County Sheriff’s Office).
In a disturbing case from Idaho, a mother allegedly attempted to justify her abusive actions towards her infant daughter by claiming the child was “not made of glass,” as outlined in a police report.
Brenwyn Richey, 26, reportedly told a witness that “shaking and jolting” her baby like a “rag doll” was commonplace, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime. Her remarks were part of an explanation she offered to rationalize her rough handling of her child.
Witnesses informed police that they observed Richey engaging in alarming behaviors, including dragging her daughter by the leg and forcefully bouncing her on her knee. These violent actions were allegedly repeated on multiple occasions, particularly when Richey was attempting to put her daughter to bed. The reported abuse began when the infant was just one week old and continued over the next two months.
The Blackfoot Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call on December 28 at Richey’s residence in Blackfoot. The call was made following allegations of her mistreatment of the child. During the police intervention, Richey confessed to using excessive force, as detailed in the affidavit.
“Richey admitted to being ‘aggressive with her baby sometimes,’ specifically noting that she ‘bounces the baby on her leg aggressively’ and places the child on the bed with undue force or speed,” the affidavit states. It also mentions a physical demonstration Richey gave to an officer, showing a rapid and forceful vertical motion. Richey acknowledged this behavior was problematic and claimed she was attempting to address it.
A witness recounted an incident when the baby was merely one week old, during which Richey allegedly dangled and “yanked” her by the leg without supporting her neck. Following this incident, Richey purportedly told the witness the child was “not made of glass,” adding that such actions were common, as detailed in the affidavit.
Another witness told police that he saw Richey “shaking the infant” and he demonstrated the action by “extending his arms and jolting them back and forth, describing a ‘constant jolt’ that would last between five and 15 minutes, or until the infant ceased crying,” according to the affidavit.
Police were called to Richey’s apartment a second time on Dec. 29, which prompted cops to notify Child Protective Services. The agency consulted with the Bonneville County Attorney’s Office and initiated an emergency removal of Richey’s daughter from her home, according to the affidavit.
CPS officials say a prior report was on file “regarding THC exposure at birth.”
Police were informed on Jan. 2 that a medical evaluation performed on the girl found possible internal injuries. “The infant’s eyes appeared abnormally ‘droopy’ for her developmental age,” the affidavit says.
A follow-up evaluation was performed on Jan. 18 and allegedly revealed that the girl was experiencing “persistent internal swelling of an undetermined cause,” according to police.
“Based on the defendant’s admissions of aggressive physical handling, witness accounts of prolonged shaking and jolting, and subsequent medical findings of internal swelling and injury, I find that probable cause exists to charge Brenwyn Richey with felony injury to child,” an officer concluded in the affidavit.
Richey faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Court records show that she is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on April 9.
