A 34-year-old Bloomfield woman was arrested on charges of battery resulting in bodily injury against a person under 14 and neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury following a Feb. 5 incident when she struck her stepson with a faux leather belt. 

Mystique Nicole Rathbun was arrested by Greene County Sheriff’s Department Det. Shawn Cullison on Feb. 7 following an incident that occurred on Feb. 5. 

The Department of Child Services (DCS) received a report regarding a child who claimed Rathbun beat him with a black extension cord, leaving bruises on his arm and leg. The report stated the victim pulled up his left pant leg and he had a large oval-shaped bruise on the upper left leg. The victim, according to the report, stated he got in trouble and made his stepmom mad. 

On Feb. 7, Det. Cullison and a DCS representative met with the victim at Bloomfield Schools. They asked the victim if he felt safe at home with his dad to which he said yes. When asked if he felt safe at home with his stepmom, the victim stated sometimes. When asked to tell them about a time when he didn’t feel safe, the victim referenced the Feb. 5 incident in which she allegedly struck him with an extension cord. He asked them if they wanted to see the bruise, pointed to his left leg, and pulled up his pant leg. This revealed a large oval-shaped bruise on his upper left thigh. Cullison photographed the bruise, which was approximately five inches in length. When asked what part of the extension cord was used to hit him, the victim explained she folded it like a belt, then demonstrated with his hands as if he was folding the cord in half. According to Cullison’s probable cause affidavit, this would leave an oval tear drop-shaped injury. 

Later in the day on Feb. 7, Det. Cullison and the DCS representative met with the victim’s father, whom the victim had not told about the incident. Det. Cullison explained to the victim’s father that a report had been made stating the victim had a large bruise on his left leg. Cullison told the father the report stated Rathbun hit the victim with a black extension cord. When asked where he was on Feb. 5, the father said he was mostly at home but works the night shift seven days a week. The father noted that the victim had been in some trouble at school and had been grounded. He acknowledged owning several extension cords; however, stated they didn’t own any black ones.

After speaking with the father, Det. Cullison then spoke with Rathbun. When asked questions such as her name and address, according to the probable cause affidavit, she began to cry. When asked if she knew how the victim got a large bruise on his upper left leg, Rathbun told Cullison she didn’t. She denied striking him with an extension cord. She allegedly said the victim is a hyper kid and the injury could have happened from anything. According to the probable cause affidavit, Rathbun began crying more at this point. 

Rathbun allegedly admitted to Det. Cullison that it was possible she was meaning to whip the victim on the butt but he moved. She said the kids occasionally get spanked on their butt with her hand. After showing Rathbun a picture of the bruise on the victim’s leg and speaking to her longer, she told Cullison if she had spanked him with anything, it would have been a soft braided nylon belt. Cullison explained the victim was clear it was a black extension cord. Rathbun, like the victim’s father, denied owning any black extension cords. 

Rathbun told Cullison she did recall yelling at the victim on the morning of Feb. 5. She said she stood in a bedroom and yelled at him, then said she left the room. According to the probable cause, she then stated “no no, I spanked him with the belt.” Rathbun stated he might have moved, and she didn't realize it because she was mad. 

Det. Cullison asked Rathbun if she used the nylon braided belt she previously described. She said she used a faux leather belt. According to the probable cause affidavit, this material could have been mistaken for an extension cord. 

Rathbun explained that she was in the kitchen when she was told the victim had gotten in trouble for taking items without permission. She said she grabbed the belt from the living room with plans of hitting the bed with it but said she must have hit the victim and not realized it. 

Rathbun was transported to Greene County Jail by Det. Cullison where her bond was set at $14,000 surety with 10 percent cash allowed. She was later released after posting $1,400. 

She is being charged with battery resulting in bodily injury against a person under 14, a Level 5 Felony and neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, a Level 5 Felony.