A child reported to the police that a woman named Courtney Crites, aged 32, used a paddle called the “attitude adjuster” to hit him and also kicked him in the private area, resulting in bruises on his back, shoulder, and chest. The incident took place in West Virginia, United States, and was reported as a possible case of child abuse on January 1. Following an investigation, Crites was arrested and charged with three felony counts of child abuse.
The child alleged that Crites would hit him with the paddle when he did not put his clothes away properly, and she referred to the paddle as the “attitude adjuster.” Moreover, the child claimed that Crites once pushed him outside in cold weather, then allowed him back inside before hitting him with the paddle, breaking it. The child described the paddle as two by four inches and approximately two feet long, causing him to feel extremely frightened when it broke during an incident.
According to police documents, the child sustained bruises on his shoulder, chest, and back, lasting for a couple of months. He also stated that Crites would kick him when she was angry. The exact relationship between Crites and the child was not disclosed by the authorities. Crites is currently held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail in West Virginia on a $100,000 bond.
In a separate but related case, a mother pleaded guilty to killing her seven-year-old son after he had expressed concerns about his safety to his grandmothers. Despite warnings and visits from social services, the mother, Sarah Safranek, proceeded to suffocate her son, Nathaniel Burton, in their home. Safranek initially admitted to the killing in March 2024 but later retracted her plea. Ultimately, in November 2025, she pleaded guilty again and received a 35-year prison sentence.
