In one of the most horrific child abuse cases Ohio has seen in years, a Cleveland mother will spend up to 23 years behind bars after she handcuffed her 6-year-old son and allowed a pit bull to use him as a “chew toy.”
Angelina Williams, 28, showed no visible emotion as Ashland County Judge Dave Stimpert handed down the maximum sentence allowed by law — between 23 and 28.5 years.
🔗 Shackled and Shredded: The Crime That Shocked Ohio
The gruesome details of the August 17, 2024 incident in Savannah, Ohio, are straight out of a nightmare. According to prosecutors, Williams and her boyfriend periodically restrained her son and daughter with handcuffs and other devices inside a home filled with filth and danger.
But it was that summer day in August that stunned even seasoned investigators:
While handcuffed, the young boy was mauled by a pit bull, suffering serious injuries. Instead of helping, Williams and her partner lied to cover it up.
As Judge Stimpert put it bluntly:
“He was handcuffed and the pit bull used him as a chew toy. And the adults made up a story to cover their butts.”
🧑⚖️ The Sentence
Williams pleaded guilty in May to:
- Kidnapping
- Four counts of Endangering Children
- Obstructing Justice
- Possessing Criminal Tools
She’ll serve consecutive sentences that add up to at least 23 years behind bars — and possibly longer.
Her co-defendant and boyfriend, Taylor Marvin-Brown, has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on July 14.
💔 A Family Torn Apart, A Child Saved
Thankfully, the young boy has physically recovered, and both he and his sister — who was also abused, though not physically harmed — are now in the custody of a legal guardian, receiving the care, counseling, and protection they were long denied.
👮♂️ Hero Deputy, Relentless Prosecutors
Deputy Curtis Hall of the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office was credited with breaking the case open.
“His professionalism and compassion were critical,” said Prosecutor Christopher Tunnell. “This case wouldn’t have been brought to light without his dedication.”
Assistant Prosecutors Matthew Metcalf and Laura Stanley were also praised for their work in bringing justice to the children.
🚨 Bottom Line
A mother handcuffed her child and let a dog maul him. Now, Ohio’s justice system has bitten back — hard. But behind the bars and headlines, two children are finally free of the nightmare. And it started with one brave deputy who believed their story.
📢 Let this case be a warning: evil hides in plain sight. And sometimes, it wears a mother’s face.