Indiana cop charged after forcing daughter, 6, to stand in freezing cold with threatening sign

In a disturbing incident that has sparked widespread concern, an Indiana police officer and his wife are facing felony charges of child neglect for allegedly subjecting their six-year-old daughter to a harsh punishment that has raised questions about the limits of parental discipline. Cody Scott, a Logansport Police officer, and his wife, Kylie Scott, were charged after a witness reported seeing their young daughter standing outside in freezing temperatures, holding a sign that included threatening language directed at her brother. The incident occurred on January 19, when temperatures were just 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has drawn attention to the ways in which parents sometimes resort to controversial methods to manage their children’s behavior.

The events unfolded when a concerned neighbor called 911 after observing the child standing outside with the sign, which read, “I want to stab and Kill my brother — I even take an antipsychotic — If you need to give pity — then give it to the victims.” The neighbor’s call led to Scott and his supervisor responding to the scene, where Scott acknowledged responsibility for his daughter’s punishment but defended it as a necessary measure. Body camera footage captured Scott explaining that the girl was required to stand outside for 30 minutes, with breaks every 10 minutes to warm up indoors. However, the witness and another passerby expressed alarm at the situation, questioning the appropriateness of the punishment, especially given the girl’s age and the freezing conditions.

This was not the first time the young girl had been forced to hold a sign as punishment. According to investigators, the girl’s parents had previously made her carry signs with humiliating messages in public settings, such as at school and while shopping at Walmart. In one instance, the sign read, “I pee on everything and cover it up like a cat,” while another stated, “I lie to hurt other people.” These actions suggest a pattern of behavior by the parents that authorities have deemed neglectful and potentially abusive. The girl’s caseworker and school officials have reportedly been involved in her case for some time, with the caseworker noting that the parents’ approach to discipline appeared to be a justification for their actions rather than a genuine effort to address their daughter’s behavioral challenges.

The parents have acknowledged that their daughter struggles with behavioral disorders and is on medication, which they claim justifies their unconventional disciplinary methods. However, investigators argue that this explanation may only serve to exacerbate the severity of the charges against them. Scott, during his conversation with the 911 caller, described his daughter as threatening to harm her family and engage in destructive behavior, saying, “She’s threatened to kill my family, she wants to embarrass us, she wants to urinate on herself and destroy things in the house.” He also mentioned that his daughter had been hospitalized twice for her behavior but was “kicked out” of the hospital, and that he had threatened not to pick her up, only relenting when warned that doing so could result in involvement from the Department of Child Services. These statements paint a picture of a family struggling to cope with significant challenges, but they do not necessarily excuse the methods employed by the parents.

The incident has had serious consequences for Scott, both personally and professionally. The Logansport Board of Public Works voted to place him on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the investigation, and the Logansport Police Department immediately handed the case over to the Indiana State Police to avoid any conflict of interest. The fact that Scott is a law enforcement officer has added another layer of scrutiny to the case, as many are questioning how someone tasked with protecting and serving the community could be accused of failing to protect his own child. The charges against Scott and his wife underscore the challenges faced by authorities in addressing child welfare issues, particularly when they involve families in positions of trust and authority.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding child discipline and the ways in which societal expectations of parental authority can sometimes intersect with harmful behavior. While the specifics of this situation are undoubtedly troubling, they also highlight broader issues, such as the need for adequate support systems for families struggling with behavioral challenges and the importance of holding all caregivers to high standards of accountability, regardless of their professional roles. As the investigation continues, the focus will remain on ensuring the well-being of the young girl and her siblings, while also addressing the systemic factors that may have contributed to this troubling sequence of events.