Jolene Marie Swihart

Sherena Michele Harris

A second woman has now been charged with abusing a toddler in a Warsaw home.

On Monday, Sherene Michele Harris, 26, was arrested after she admitted to striking her 4-year-old daughter with a belt so hard that it left bruises, and taping the child’s mouth shut with duct tape. (See story)

As Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department detectives continue their investigation, they found enough evidence to charge another woman with the crime. On Wednesday night, deputies went to the mobile home at 1692 E. CR 200 North, Warsaw, and took Jolene Marie Swihart, 30, into custody on a warrant.

Like Harris, Swihart has also been charged with battery resulting in serious bodily injury to a victim less than 14-years-old. Harris, however, has an additional charge of neglect of a dependent.

During interviews with the women, investigators determined Swihart had kicked and potentially injured the same 4-year-old toddler on other previous occasions.

Swihart was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail and is currently being held on a $5,000 bond.