Mother charged for duct taping 2-year-old to chair

PHILADELPHIA - Police say that two other children under the age of 8 witnessed the incident...

Feb 17, 2011

Police have filed endangerment charges against a southeastern Pennsylvania woman whose toddler was photographed while bound to a chair with duct tape covering her mouth. The Delaware County Daily Times reports that 21-year-old Caira Ferguson of Toby Farms in Chester Township, was charged Wednesday after being questioned by Nether Providence Township police.

She was picked up earlier in the day for outstanding warrants.

Chester Township police became aware of the photograph when Ferguson, who is the woman pictured in the photo, lodged an identity theft complaint with the police station Tuesday, police told NBC Philadelphia. “She told us that it is her in the photograph, ” Police Chief Ken Coalson told the Delco Times.

Ferguson was arrested Wednesday because of outstanding warrants, police told NBC Philadelphia. Police have had contact with the toddler since the investigation began, Coalson said. The incident happened last summer when Ferguson lived in Nether Providence, according to police.

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Police believe a friend of Ferguson took the photograph. Ferguson briefly defended herself while police escorted her outside of the station.

“I did not duct tape my daughter,” said Ferguson.

Caira’s father, Ira Ferguson, insists that her daughter is not an abusive mother.

“My daughter is a very loving daughter, very loving mother, very loving friend to me and all her family,” said Ira.

Police say that during questioning, Caira admitted to taping her daughter to the chair last summer inside the Wallingford home where she and her family used to live. Ira denies this however.

“I have word from her mouth she did not confess,” said Ira. “I’d like that to be known.”

Police say that two other children under the age of 8 witnessed the incident. Police also say that they searched Caira’s current home and that the chair from the picture still had remnants of duct tape attached to it. Despite all of this, Caira’s father remains supportive and still insists that his granddaughter has never been in danger.

“She’s loved in the home, she’s cared for,” said Ira.

Anyone with information about the photo or the incident depicted in the photo is asked to call Chester Township Police at 610.494.0211.