A couple in the United States was apprehended after they allegedly tattooed their children forcefully, and then tried cutting their skin in a bid to remove the ink when authorities got involved, according to a local media report.
The mother, Megan Mae Farr, and the stepfather, Gunner Farr, allegedly tied down their children, 9- and 5-year-old, and forcibly pressed the needle into their skin for the tattoos. While one received a tattoo on the foot, the other child got it on the shoulder.
The children were inked after the parents covered their mouths with tape, and used a rag to cover their eyes.
When the biological father spotted the tattoo and asked Farr about it, she reportedly laughed it off and drove away. He then reported the matter to child protective services (CPS).
When the accused couple came to know about the complaint they allegedly cut, scraped and scrubbed the children’s skin with lemon juice to try to erase the tattoos.
‘There were visible injuries on the child at the specific location of the tattoo and it appeared that the flesh was removed from the body at the tattoo location and this happened about the time that CPS got involved in the allegations of the child abuse,” interim Zavalla Police Chief Lt. James Denby told KTRE.
The couple was arrested on Monday and was charged with injury to a child and unlawful restraint. The children have since been placed in the care of CPS and the investigation is underway.
