Woman Watched 4-Year-Old Child Go ‘Round And Round’ After Forcing Boy Into Dryer

A Florida woman has been arrested over the weekend after she reportedly forcefully stuffed a 4-year-old boy inside a laundry dryer and activated the machine.

The accused, identified as 35-year-old Amber Chapman, has been taken into custody and charged with child abuse after the unidentified 4-year-old victim allegedly told investigating officers that “Miss Chapman” coerced him into the machine with some towels and that she watched him go "around and around" inside the dryer, New York Post reported.

The incident came to light after the toddler was initially taken to an emergency room in February with severe bruising around his eyes, ears, shoulders, and lower back. Following this, when the child was questioned by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office regarding the bruises on his body, the boy told them that he suffered the injuries after Chapman, of Eustis, put him inside a dryer. He added that Chapman opened the door at one point in the cycle and then closed it again to resume the tumbling.

Meanwhile, the child's medical report stated that doctors found his injuries to be consistent with the boy’s statements. Following this, Chapman was arrested this past weekend but was later released on a $15,000 bond. She faces a first-degree felony charge of aggravated child abuse, WFTV Channel 9 reported.

Local law enforcement has yet to release a motive for the abuse.

In a similar but unrelated incident, a New Hampshire man has been charged for allegedly turning on a clothes dryer after he put his infant daughter inside it on Sept. 8, 2021, Latin Times reported.

Michael Higgins, 34, faces raps of reckless conduct, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal threatening after he allegedly placed his infant daughter inside a clothes dryer and deliberately turned the machine on while the newborn was in it. Thankfully, the baby remained unhurt as the mother was able to quickly intervene and remove the infant from the dryer.

Police officers responded to Kimball Street on Sept. 12, 2021, after they were alerted of a domestic incident. When law enforcement reached the home, they found the man and the woman arguing, however, it did not appear that the confrontation got physical.

Higgins was arrested and charged with reckless conduct, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal threatening, Heather Hamel, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) spokesperson confirmed.