PLEEBO, Maryland – Police in Maryland are searching for a 45-year-old woman in Harper who is on the run after she was accused of burning the palms of her five-year-old granddaughter.
Marie Toe allegedly committed the act in retaliation for the child eating a piece of meat left on their kitchen dryer on April 3. The child’s grandfather and husband of Marie Toe confirmed the incident. Refusing to give his first name, Toe said he and his wife had left their grandchild, Theresa Toe, at home to fend for food.
“When we returned from the bush, Marie observed that a piece of the meat was missing from the dryer and alleged that it was eaten by Theresa,” he said.
The grandfather, who only gave his last name as Toe, told The Bush Chicken that Marie Toe whipped the child ruthlessly, placed a burning palm kernel in her hand, and asked her not to drop it to the ground. The action left the child’s hand burnt, leaving visible scars and deforming her fingers.
As of April 27, authorities were still actively searching for Marie Toe, as she had gone into hiding since the incident.
Pleebo’s police commander, Colonel Max Roberts, said although the incident occurred on April 3, it was not reported until recently when a neighbor tipped off the police. Before the police discovered the abuse, the young child had not received any medical attention.
Roberts said the victim’s grandfather was initially arrested, but he has since been released. However, the police commander said Marie Toe has a prior record with the police. Last year, the suspect was accused of biting off her husband’s ear, he said.
Roberts also revealed that the child is now residing with a female officer of the Women and Children Protection Division of the Liberia National Police while receiving medical treatment.
Many neighbors within the community expressed outrage at Marie Toe’s actions and called for her arrest and prosecution.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in Maryland acknowledged the situation. Coordinator Saynnon Whea expressed empathy for the victim and noted that Marie Toe was accused of abusing the child the previous year when she allegedly beat her granddaughter and broke her arms and legs as punishment for stealing food.
Marie Toe was arrested for this incident and spent six months in prison in River Gee as the Harper Central Prison remains in shambles after protestors burned it in 2021.
The abusive grandmother was later freed, and the child was sent to live with her abusers after community members appealed to the gender coordinator. Whea explained that Maryland lacks a safe home that can host abused children for extended periods; therefore, her office cannot care for too many children. They must often release victims back to their abusers.
“I’m so sad over what that little kid is going through in her grandmother’s hands,” Whea said, adding that many children not living with their biological parents are going through similar issues.
The five-year-old’s mother is struggling with mental illness and cannot care for the child on her own.
Featured photo by Elizabeth T. Cheechea
