Alleged abuse captured on intercepted video
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The video shows two girls standing with their hands in the air.
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Wisconsin police arrested a foster mother after obtaining video of the woman allegedly punching a 2-year-old girl in her care. CNN's Jeff Flock reports (February 19)
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MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A woman who was seen striking two children in a video signal accidentally intercepted by a neighbor has been accused of child abuse, prompting authorities to remove six children from her home.
Theresa Smith, 39, was charged Wednesday with physical abuse of a child causing bodily harm after a surveillance system at a neighbor's house intercepted a video signal Sunday coming from a monitoring system in Smith's home.
The video showed two girls, ages 4 and 2, standing in a bedroom with their hands in the air. The younger girl appeared to be struck in the abdomen by Smith after the girl turned from her position. Later, Smith appeared to strike the other girl in the head with an object.
Six children lived in the home: the 2- and 4-year-old girls and a 5-month-old boy, all in foster care, plus Smith's own children, ages 14, 12 and 10. All have been removed, McCann said.
The neighbor, William Brookins, called police after he watched the images. Smith was arrested Monday.
No telephone number was listed for Smith, and a public defender has not yet been appointed.
Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann told "Good Morning America" Thursday that the capturing of the images was accidental, and he expected the videotape would be allowed in court.
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