LOVELAND, Ohio — A 20-year-old mother was arrested and charged with domestic violence after a video allegedly showing her abusing her baby circulated widely online, leading to public outcry and a police investigation.
Cloe Workman was taken into custody on Thursday and faces two felony charges: one for endangering a child and another for domestic violence, according to court records obtained by local CBS affiliate WKRC. Authorities say the video shows Workman spitting on her baby’s face, forcibly pushing the infant’s head, and squirting dish detergent into the child’s mouth.
The video was reportedly sent to the child’s father, who shared it with others before it went viral on social media. The Loveland Police Department and Child Protective Services began an investigation on Tuesday, one day after the alleged abuse occurred, following multiple complaints from concerned individuals who viewed the footage.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Workman was initially charged with child endangerment, but the domestic violence charge was added on Wednesday as part of the ongoing case. Officials confirmed that the baby, a girl just over a year old, is now safe and has been placed in the custody of Workman’s grandparents.
Meanwhile, the baby’s uncle launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her father, Steven, secure legal representation and fight for custody of his daughter. “Cloe Workman abused my niece and sent disgusting videos and messages of it to my brother,” he wrote on the fundraising page. “We are doing everything we can… to get her back with him where she rightfully belongs.”
Workman is being held at the Clermont County Jail, where she awaits her next court appearance.