A child informed the authorities that a woman used a paddle known as the “attitude adjuster” to hit him and also kicked him in sensitive areas. Courtney Crites, aged 32, was taken into custody following allegations from one of five children who claimed she caused bruises on his back, shoulder, and chest. The incident, possibly involving child abuse, was reported on January 1 in West Virginia, USA. The child detailed various forms of mistreatment, including being left outside in the cold, physical abuse, and verbal aggression.
Law enforcement officials interviewed all five children residing in the residence where the mother lived with her boyfriend. The interviews were conducted by a child advocacy center, recorded, and shared with the police. Subsequently, Crites was arrested and charged with three counts of felony child abuse. According to reports, the boy revealed that Crites would use a wooden paddle referred to as the “attitude adjuster” to discipline him for not putting his clothes away properly. He also claimed that she forced him outside in freezing conditions, allowed him back in, and then struck him with the paddle until it broke.
The child described the paddle as two by four inches and approximately two feet long, expressing fear when it broke during the punishment. The injuries sustained by the boy included bruises on his shoulder, chest, and back, lasting for several months. Additionally, he mentioned that Crites would kick him when angry. The nature of the relationship between Crites and the child was not disclosed by the police. Crites is currently held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail in West Virginia on a $100,000 bond.
In a separate incident, a mother admitted to killing her seven-year-old son after he had warned others about the potential danger. Nathaniel Burton had confided in his grandmothers about his concerns regarding his mother’s intentions. Despite several interactions with social services, the warnings were not heeded, and the tragic event occurred. Nathaniel passed away on February 18, 2021, with the prosecution indicating that his mother suffocated him at home the day before. The mother initially pleaded guilty but later withdrew the plea. She eventually pleaded guilty again and received a 35-year prison sentence in November 2025.