Jo: Age - 4 yrs, 1 mo (July 30, 1991)
Injury: Bruises, left temple, depicting Audrey Spall's handprint.
(video captured)
Father: So tell me again what happened here?
Jo: Hit me.
Father: Who?
Jo: Mom.
Father: When?
Jo: Today.
Hear the audio
track from the videotape.
"Regrettably, on one occasion when my daughter was having a tantrum
and was physically attacking me, and while I
was trying to restrain her, I attempted to swat her in the rear-end.
Because Jo was flailing about, I accidentally slapped her in the face."
Jo's
mother, Audrey Spall, 7-7-92 in her
declaration, signed under penalty of perjury.
Less than a month after sustaining the above injury
Jo sustained another head injury while in her mother's custody. I
did not learn of the subsequent (8-21-91) head
injury until ten months later when I obtained a copy of Jo's medical
file.
I had told Jo back in July to call me
if her mother were to hit her in the face again and I promised her I would
"make it stop."
On March 2, 1992, Jo called and
told me her mother had slapped her in the face again. I called CPS
and finally reported Jo's mother for suspected physical child abuse.
"I am
sure a review of my daughter's complete medical file at Dr. Brosbe's
office will indicate proper health care and concern on my
part."
Audrey Spall, July 7, 1992, declaration