Cape woman charged with child neglect

A Cape Girardeau woman faces up to seven years in prison on a charge of child neglect.

Chiquita C. Bell, 34, of Cape Girardeau was asked Aug. 8 to watch the 15-month-old child of another woman while the mother was out of town, according to a probable-cause statement from Cape Girardeau Police detective Jeffrey Bonham.

When the mother returned, Bell told her to come back in two days -- on Aug. 10 -- refusing to open the door. The mother was awakened at 4 a.m. Aug. 11 and learned the child was having a seizure.

"Medical records showed that the victim had multiple injuries, including bruising to the forehead, ears, eyelids, loop marks on the body and swelling of the child's hand," Bonham wrote.

Bell told Bonham on Aug. 13 the child was not injured when she was dropped off.

Arraignment in the case is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday.