Woman charged with child abuse after youth tests positive for meth
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
An Audrain County woman was charged with several felonies after her she was accused of abusing her child.
Tiffany Cox, of Vandalia, was charged on Monday with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse, possessing a forging instrument, forgery, drug possession and misdemeanor possessing drug paraphernalia. A warrant was issued and no bond was set. A confined docket hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The probable cause statement says Cox was arrested on Oct. 2 for an active warrant and the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office began investigating her for child abuse when they noticed a number of bruises on Cox’s child. The youth was put in the custody of another family member and was then evaluated at University Hospital, the statement says.
The child allegedly had “extensive bruising to the extremities, abdomen, back, cheeks, and chin of Confidential Child Victim and noted the facial bruising was consistent with squeezing or pinching,” the statement says. The youth also tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, according to the statement.
Law enforcement searched Cox’s residence on Nov. 14 and found meth, several uncapped syringes, “glass smoking devices,” a printer and apparent counterfeit money.