Utah Mom Accused of Child Torture Against Baby Girl, Wishing for a Boy | Crime Alert 8AM 10.03.25

A mother in Utah has been taken into custody after bringing her 4-month-old daughter to the hospital with injuries that prompted medical professionals to alert law enforcement.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alert hourly update breaking crime news Now. I'm Nicole Parton.
A mother in Utah has been taken into custody after
bringing her four month old daughter to the hospital with
injuries that prompted medical professionals to alert law enforcement. Elizabeth Breton,
thirty six, faces charges of child torture and aggravated child

(00:21):
abuse following her arrest. According to court documents, They reveal
that Breton and her husband, whose identity has not been disclosed,
arrived at Primary Children's Hospital with their infant daughter, who
had severe burns on her face. Upon examination, medical staff
discovered multiple bone fractures and signs of a brain bleed,

(00:42):
in addition to other injuries in various stages of healing.
When questioned about the burns, the baby's father claimed that
his wife was attempting quote a home remedy that involved
holding the child over a pot of steam. However, police
reported that when Breton wiped the bait baby's face with
a napkin, it removed the skin. The court documents detailed

(01:05):
further allegations from the father, who recounted a disturbing incident
where he found the baby with tape covering her mouth
when he questioned his wife, she allegedly said, I did
it because the baby will not stop crying. According to
police reports, the father also accused his wife of taping
the baby's arms behind her back during feeding times and

(01:26):
forcively shoving a bottle into the baby's mouth, which caused
her to choke and struggle to breathe. He reportedly provided
video and photo evidence of these incidents. During police interviews,
the father expressed concerns that Breton's treatment of the infant
stemmed from her desire for a son, suggesting she was
less harsh toward the older children. When questioned about using

(01:49):
steam that was hot enough to burn, Breton acknowledged feeling
her hands were very hot, but did not consider that
it would hurt the child, claim that taping the baby's
mouth shut was to keep her pacifier in she felt
that was the easiest solution. Local CBS affiliate KUTV also

(02:11):
acquired court documents which indicate that Breton responded with uncertainty
when asked how the baby sustained the other injuries, saying
quote she couldn't remember. Breton was arrested on Tuesday and
is currently being held at the Salt Lake City Jail.
Facing charges of child torture and aggravated child abuse. More
crime and justice news after this and now to Oklahoma.

(02:39):
Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church, has admitted guilt
to several charges of child sexual abuse in Oklahoma. On Thursday,
the sixty four year old pastor was taken into custody
after reaching a plea agreement with Judge Cindy Pickerheel in
Osage County District Court, where he faced five felony charges
related to in dc acts with a minor. The victim,

(03:02):
Cindy Clemenshire, now fifty five, testified that the abuse began
when she was twelve years old. Morris, who previously served
as a spiritual advisor to former President Donald Trump, has
been sentenced to ten years in prison. However, he will
only spend six months incarcerated, with the remainder of his
sentence served on probation in Texas. Bill Mattea, the pastor's attorney,

(03:26):
stated in an email that Pastor Morris feels he has
taken responsibility before God, the congregation, and his family, and
has also acknowledged his legal obligations. In addition to his
prison sentence, Morris is required to register as a sex
offender and must cover his incarceration cost, including any medical expenses,

(03:46):
as well as provide restitution to the victim. Clemence Shire
was present during the court proceedings and alleged the abuse
took place in the nineteen eighties while Morris was a
traveling evangelist staying with her family in Oklahoma. According to reports,
the abuse started in nineteen eighty two and continued for
four years. In July twenty four, News revealed that Morris

(04:09):
and his legal team attempted to shift some of the
blame to Clemenshire, alleging she had instigated inappropriate behavior by
entering his bedroom and climbing into bed with the young preacher.
Morris established Gateway Church in South Lake, a suburb of Dallas, Texas,
in two thousand. The church's website has since removed references

(04:29):
to him. It has expanded to multiple locations throughout Dallas
Fort Worth, as well as Wyoming in several prisons. After
the sentencing, clemens Shire expressed her relief in court, stating,
finally justice has been served. I'm just happy that it
is over. I feel good about it. It's behind us.

(04:52):
I don't know that I have words for that. Yet
in March, and Oklahoma grand jury indicted Morris on five
counts of fluid and indecent with the child. For the
latest crime injustice news, follow Crime Alert hourly update on
your favorite podcasting app with this crime Alert, I'm Nicole Parton.