Paducah woman faces child abuse, strangulation charges

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – A McCracken County woman faces child abuse and strangulation charges.

Amber Patton, 37, of Paducah faces strangulation 1st degree and criminal abuse 1st degree – child 12 or under charges.

The criminal abuse 1st degree – child 12 or under charge is a Class B felony, punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The strangulation 1st degree charges is a Class C felony, punishable by 5–10 years in prison.

Patton was arrested about 4 p.m. on March 21. The arrest was pursuant to a McCracken County Grand Jury indictment after an investigation that began on February 13.

Deputies responded to a local school to investigate possible child abuse on Feb. 13.

A staff member of the elementary school noticed marks on a five-year-old child. Thinking it was medically related, the staff member had the school’s medical staff evaluate the marks. The medical staff immediately suspected the marks were abuse after observing them and discovering severe bruising, burst blood vessels, and other evidence of abuse, according to the sheriff’s office.

The child was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries.

Detectives and DCBS conducted a joint investigation. Detectives interviewed the parents and the other children living in the household, conducted search warrants on the home and electronic devices, and obtained surveillance evidence from other locations. Physicians were also consulted during the investigation and it was determined that the injuries were due to ongoing abuse and strangulation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Evidence was presented to a McCracken County Grand Jury on Friday, March 17. The Grand Jury returned an indictment against Patton.