Woman accused of beating child with belt, choking them

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A 62-year-old woman was charged with battery and strangulation after allegedly beating and choking a child in St. Joseph County.

Delois Dawson was formally charged with three counts of battery and one count of strangulation.

The charges come after the victim told the school nurse her back and arms hurt, and a physical exam revealed injuries in both places. The victim said this wasn’t the first time she had been hit by Dawson.

During an interview with the CASIE Center, the victim said they were beaten with a belt “with a metal thing at the end which Dawson usually wears around her waist.” Two witnesses confirmed the victim’s report.

The victim also said Dawson choked them with two hands in a back-and-forth motion, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Dawson stopped choking the victim because she didn’t want to kill them, the victim said.

They also said Dawson has choked them before, and that she’s also punched them in the chest, according to police reports.

Officers interviewed Dawson, who reportedly said the victim and witnesses were lying and had lied before.

Dawson has not yet been arraigned.