Palmyra man faces felony neglect, abuse charges
A Palmyra man faces felony neglect and battery charges following a December incident in which he is accused of hitting his 8-year-old stepson in the face and hanging him on an inversion table until he passed out.
Jeffrey A. Dell, 30, was charged Feb. 10 with battery resulting in bodily injury to a person less than 14 years of age, a Level 5 felony, and neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony. The boy’s mother, Kayla Dell, 28, is charged with neglect of a dependent, Level 6 felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the incident occurred Dec. 18. The boy told investigators he was supposed to be writing sentences but was instead “fooling around,” flipping a water bottle and trying to get it to land upright. The bottle hit his 2-year-old stepsister in the forehead.
The boy said his stepfather spanked him and threw a water bottle at him. He then made the child hang upside down on an inversion table. While he was hanging upside down, Dell hit him. The child said after being smacked multiple times, he got dizzy and couldn’t remember anything else. He said was not allowed to go to school the next two days because Dell and his mother were afraid he would tell what had happened.
When another adult picked the child up on Dec. 20, she immediately noticed the mark’s on his face. She took him to Harrison County Hospital in Corydon, where he was examined and authorities were contacted.
Kayla Dell confirmed her son’s account. She said her husband got upset because the child hit his “blood daughter” with the water bottle. Text messages concerning details of the incident were also exchanged between Kayla Dell and the adult who picked up the boy on Dec. 20.
