Hartford City stepmother pleads guilty in abuse of 7-year-old

A Hartford City woman has pleaded guilty to abusing her 7-year-old stepdaughter, who suffered a severe brain injury last December.

Jennifer Revis, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury and two counts of domestic battery, according to court records. Neglect resulting in catastrophic injury is a Level 1 felony. In Indiana, that is the most serious felony class below murder.

Under state law, a Level 1 felony carries 20 to 40 years in prison. Her sentence will be decided by Blackford Circuit Court Judge Brian Bade. Sentencing is set for October.

Revis had faced more charges before the plea. Court records show she was charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent, one count of aggravated battery and two counts of domestic battery. The plea agreement resolves the case with the three counts she admitted to.

Her husband, Ryan Revis, 28, is the girl's father and was charged in the same case. He has not entered a guilty plea and is set to go to trial in January. He is presumed innocent unless a jury finds otherwise.

What happened in December

Police were called to the couple's home on West Commercial Street in December after the girl had a seizure, court records show. Emergency responders found her unresponsive, with bruises across her body.

The girl was taken to the hospital and needed surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. Court records state the injury came from blunt force trauma. A doctor told police she did not believe the child would survive.

Court records list the girl's injuries as a fractured ankle, extensive bruising to her buttocks, and full-body bruising and swelling. Investigators described the pattern as consistent with repeated blunt force trauma.

What Jennifer Revis admitted

In interviews with police, Jennifer Revis admitted to slapping and punching the girl in the face and shoving her into a wall, court records show. She also told police she struck the girl on the feet and hand with a hammer, and that the child was kept in her bedroom for large parts of the day.

Revis described the abuse as rage-induced, sparked by what she saw as disrespect, according to court records. She could give only vague examples of what she meant.

"I see rage, bro," she told police, court records show. "When she talks to me like that, I just see rage."

Investigators wrote that the language Revis used about the child was "abhorrent," court records show.

What remains unproven

When police first investigated, the couple tried to blame each other, court records show. Both admitted to open-hand and closed-fist hitting, pushing and choking the child.

Jennifer Revis told police that Ryan Revis choked, kicked and strangled the girl, threw her into her room, and said he wanted to kill her. Those statements are her accusations. They have not been tested in court, and Ryan Revis faces trial in January.

Ryan Revis told police he "chose not to intervene" when he saw the girl's injuries and fearful behavior, court records show.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the Indiana Department of Child Services Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556 or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.