Caught On Tape: Woman Assaults Child In Indiana

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Police say they're looking for a Texas woman who was videotaped striking her young daughter in the parking lot of a department store in northern Indiana.

Video

Caught On Tape: Woman Assaults Child Slideshow: Pictures Of Assault

Police said a surveillance video captured Madelyne Gorman beating her daughter, Martha Toogood, as she put her in a white sport utility vehicle Sept. 13. The SUV had a Texas license plate, South Bend television station WNDU reported.

Police said Gorman and another woman -- identified as Gorman's sister -- had earlier caught the attention of security personnel.

"They had some items that they took into Kohls that they tried to received money for, and, for whatever reason, they were refused the exchange, and they were asked to leave the store," Mishawaka Police Chief Mike Samp said.

The tape shows the girl, who police believe is 4 years old, getting into the SUV. Gorman looked around, and then started striking the child. The girl was hit at least five times and shaken. At one point, she was grabbed by her hair and punched in the face more than 12 times, WNDU reported.

The entire assault lasted around 25 seconds.

A doctor who viewed the tape said the girl needs treatment.

"Punching her in the head -- there's obviously blunt head trauma," Dr. Arnold Del Pilar said. "This child needs to be medically examined."

Police are looking for the child because they, too, believe she may be injured, WNDU reported.

Gorman, her daughter, her sister and her sister's son left the parking lot before police could stop them, authorities said.

Police used the SUV's license plate information to locate family members, but they characterized the individuals as less than helpful, WNDU reported.

Gorman has family members in northern Indiana, police said.

"We spoke with family members, and they indicated that the mother and child have left the state," Samp said.

But police believe the woman and her daughter may still be in the area.

"It makes me sick, to think that child is still with that mother, and quite frankly, if the mother is willing to do that in the parking lot, what is she doing at home?" Samp said.

Gorman is described as having blond hair, is about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 135 pounds and in her mid-20s.

Anyone with any information on their whereabouts is asked to call the Mishawaka Police Department at 574-258-1684 or via e-mail at Police@Mishawakacity.com.