A mother in Ohio’s abuse was exposed when her teen daughter captured a video of a “horrific” attack on her younger sibling, which sparked an investigation after the clip went viral.
Heather Michelle Pippen pleaded guilty to two counts of endangering children, one count of strangulation and one count of obstructing official business on Wednesday, September 9, in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
Stephanas Golden, Pippen’s boyfriend, was also charged with seven counts of endangering children and two counts of strangulation. He appeared in court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The investigation into Pippen, 35, began on April 18 when officers with the Dayton Police Department responded to the couple’s home for a welfare check, according to a press release from the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. The father of a 15-year-old girl living in the house made the request after his daughter sent him a video of a younger child being abused by the couple.
Upon their arrival, officers spoke to the teen and she did not disclose any details of abuse. However, police learned the following day that a video was uploaded “on social media depicting the physical abuse of a preteen girl in the home.”
In the video, Golden was allegedly seen sitting on top of a 10-year-old girl as he repeatedly whipped her with a belt, according to Dayton Daily News. Pippen was reportedly heard in the background of the video, which was filmed by her teen daughter.
Police returned to the home and found seven children, who were between the ages of 7 to 15, that all showed “signs of abuse.” The prosecutor’s office said that some of the children’s injuries appeared to be recent, while others were older and healing.
The 15-year-old claimed that the couple had been abusing her and her siblings for “a long time,” and she showed them multiple photos and videos that documented the violence.
“The abuse inflicted on these innocent children was truly horrifying and is nothing short of sadistic,” Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said following Pippen and Golden’s indictments. “All of the children were forensically interviewed and disclosed incidents when they were physically abused or witnessed one or more of the other children in the home being abused. Thankfully, the children are in foster care and are safe from these defendants.”
Pippen is scheduled to appear in court for her sentencing hearing on September 25. It’s not currently clear when Golden was expected to return to court in his case. Online records viewed by Us show that both Pippen and Golden remain in custody at Montgomery County Jail following their arrests on April 21.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
