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Mom arrested after bruised, bloodied boy found in Wal-Mart shopping cart
By Associated Press
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BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. -- A woman's call to police led to the arrest of a mom whose bruised, bloodied 3-year-old was unresponsive in a shopping cart, police said Friday.

The shopper who spotted the boy in a Wal-Mart on Wednesday likely saved his life, police spokeswoman Emily Montague said.

"She thought the little boy was wearing Halloween makeup, the bruises were so bad on his face and body," Montague said. "She immediately called police for suspected child abuse when she realized it wasn't Halloween makeup, it was bruises."

The malnourished toddler was hospitalized and will be placed in state custody. He was slumped over in the shopping cart and unresponsive.

"His eyes looked like they had blood in them. He didn't even look like he was there," said Robin Thrush Hall.

Hall, from Needles, Calif., spotted the boy and called police.

"You just never, ever, ever, ever think that you're gonna see a baby like that," she said.

The boy's mother, Mitzie Dawn Hadsall, 25, was arrested on aggravated assault, child neglect and endangerment charges. The boy was physically abused and kept locked in a closet for days while denied food and water as a form of punishment, Montague said.

The child had bruises all over his body, dried blood on his mouth and rope marks on his wrists, Montague said. He was transferred to a hospital in Las Vegas and reported in fair condition.

Two people Hadsall lived with also face charges, one for child endangerment and one for failing to report child abuse, Montague. Neither were accused of abusing the child.

All three remained in jail Friday in lieu of bond. Mohave County Public Defender Dana Hlavac said his office had not yet assigned an attorney to the cases.

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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

91241 wrote on Oct 4, 2008 1:19 PM:

" Thank god for the lady that made the call. The mother and the others hopefully will be sentenced and put in general population and all their future incarceration neighbors be told their crime. Satisfaction "YOU BET" "

Thero wrote on Oct 3, 2008 10:03 PM:

" Just makes you sick to your stomach... "

editorgirl62 wrote on Oct 3, 2008 9:32 PM:

" And just think...there about thousands more out there, right now, locked in closets, being beaten and burned and bruised, molested and raped and starved....open your eyes like this women did and pay attention! Get nosy! Ask questions! Call the authorities! Imagine if this good samaritan hadn't.... "

Luvnlgn06 wrote on Oct 3, 2008 8:51 PM:

" This is Disgusting....Who has the heart...I have a 2 year old little boy that I feel guilty for raising my voice to when he gets in trouble. I couldnt imagine! Poor baby. I hope he is young enough to forget about this..and find a ne home with good people who will show him the love and attention he deserves. "
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