Mother Charged In Injuring Own Children
Sherry (Sherri) Faye Shell, 35, of 866 Pine Mills Rd., Warsaw, was first questioned by Warsaw Police Detective Lee Ann Roby on Aug. 29 after the detective was called to Jefferson Elementary School by school officials. At that time, school personnel had received two letters from Shell trying to explain why her two children – then a 7-year-old and a 6-year-old – were absent from school the day before and why they both had injuries.
According to the probable cause affidavit provided by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, Shell said she used “excessive force” in putting her 6-year-old child in time out which caused bruising to his head. Shell also admitted to brushing the child’s hair “very hard” causing a bald spot. Shell told Det. Roby that she “gets frustrated when discipling the children.”
In another instance, the then 7-year-old child told Jefferson School Nurse Amy Grill that her bruises and abrasions on her lower and mid-back, spine, and lower rib cage where a handprint was visible, were caused when her mother held her down and forced her to eat a hot dog.
The content of Shell’s initial letters to the school is not known.
Shell is charged with two Class D felony charges of battery to a person less than 14 years of age. She was arrested Monday and held on a $2,500 bond. No court date has yet been set.
Shell claims on her Facebook page that she is a coordinator for The Beaman Home, which is a shelter for victims of domestic abuse.April Collette is the outreach coordinator for The Beaman Home and has been with the organization for 15 years. “Sherry (Sherri) Shell, is not currently and has never been an employee of The Beaman Home. The Beaman Home advocates against any type of abuse, and all our advocate’s have a passion to support the cause of abuse and neglect. A background check is done on all employees to try to assure that the clients we serve are in trained caring hands.”
Shell’s last post was on Sunday when she wrote, “Taking a sabbatical from Facebook for a while. I’m not sure when I’ll get back on. I need a break from Facebook. See you all again one day. God bless and remember our family in your prayers. I love all my family and close friends you all know who you are so there’s no need in naming names. You all mean the world to me.”