OWENSVILLE — An Owensville police investigation into a suspected child abuse case resulted in the arrest earlier this month of local woman on one felony  charge alleging abuse or neglect of a child.

According to Owensville police, on May 9 police continued “an investigation in reference to child abuse and at the conclusion of the investigation, a Probable Cause statement was sent to the Gasconade County Prosecuting Attorney where a warrant was issued by Judge (Ada) Brehe Krueger for felony abuse or neglect of a child with a bond set at $10,000. The suspect who was charged was Caitlyn M. Schofield.”

Police said Schofield is step-mother to the victim, age 7, who was only identified by her initials. Det. Sgt. Rob Green’s application for the warrant noted the victim’s arms were covered in numerous bruises which were described as “fingerprint bruises” from being grabbed. These incidents reportedly took place between May 6 and 9 at a residence in a south-side mobile home park inside the city limits of Owensville.

Police said Gasconade County R-2 School District officials and Children’s Division staff worked together on the case. Schofield was arrested May 9. According to Green’s Probable Cause Statement, Schofield admitted to blackening the child’s eye in the fall of 2023 which was being investigated as a separate case for the Children’s Division staff. She also reportedly told police she told the child to lie about where the bruises came from to keep herself and her husband, the child’s father, from being in trouble with police.

“I would like to commend the officers at the Owensville Police Department, Gasconade County R-2 School District and the Children’s Division for working together in a quick and thorough manner while investigating this case,” said Owensville City Marshal Scott Griffith.

A bondsman posted the surety bond for Schofield on May 20. She was scheduled to be arraigned this morning (Wednesday) in Brehe-Krueger’s Associate Circuit Court in Hermann.