NFL Running Back Adrian Peterson Indicted For Abusing 4-Year-Old Son
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Texas on child abuse charges, according to TMZ. At statement through Peterson’s lawyer Rusty Hardin said, “The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son.”
“This indictment follows Adrian’s full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgement as a parent to discipline his son.”
“He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in East Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened,” he continued.
[su_center_ad]Hardin said Peterson has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours.
The pictures police released are graphic and include photos of cuts on the 4-year-old boy’s thigh and hands, bruises on his lower back and buttocks.
One law enforcement source told TMZ that Peterson decided to discipline his son by grabbing a branch from a tree, then whipping the child on his bare skin. Several of the child’s wounds were reportedly bleeding when the child went back to his mother in Minnesota, who in turn, took her son to the doctor. That doctor reported the injuries to authorities.
The Vikings issued a statement saying, “The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson.
Sources told TMZ the alleged victim is a male child from Minnesota who was visiting Adrian in May at his home in Texas.
Peterson tweeted today:
“People understand that if you are on God’s course and suppose to have that position and man decides to remove you know that God will remove everyone to place you rightfully! You matter!”
“Its your season! Weapons may form but won’t prosper! God has you covered don’t stress or worry!”
Image: TMZ[su_csky_ad]
Carla Akins September 12th, 2014 at 7:42 pm
They were wrong to indict him. Why didn’t the DFS simply contact him about this issue? That’s would have happened to the rest of us, we would not have been indicted for a crime. Parenting courses have really grown, they provide parents with tools and skills to to discipline your children without corporal punishment. This seems heavy handed and unnecessary.
M D Reese September 12th, 2014 at 7:52 pm
Seriously? He was whipped all over his body to the point of bleeding. You don’t need to take a parenting course to know that that is wrong.
Carla Akins September 12th, 2014 at 8:20 pm
I should have worded it better. In my book “even” a spanking is wrong. I don’t think Peterson intention was to abuse the child but that it was the only way he knew how. Yes, it deserves a visit from DFS, and an investigation and monitoring and parenting classes. Peterson needs to know what he did rises to the level of a crime, but it should also allow for a mend in the relationship, an ability to heal their parent/child relationship.
It shouldn’t have involved an indictment. Peterson needs to learn proper, responsible parenting skills and his child needs to be able to trust his father and all adults again. Indicting him allows for terminating his parental rights and potentially severing the bond a child should have with his Dad. Mine sucked, I loved him anyway and regret we never had an opportunity or provided the skills to do so.
M D Reese September 12th, 2014 at 9:08 pm
I don’t have time to check right now, but I believe I heard that this is not the first child that he has abused. And what I learned from being beaten for no damn reason is that my parents were abusive boozeheads who could hit me because they were bigger than me and I was property and nobody would intervene. When I got big enough, I left and pretty much never looked back.
Carla Akins September 12th, 2014 at 9:32 pm
What you learned is what they’ve proven is what all kids take away from it. The phrase I hate most is “I was raised that way…” – it doesn’t make it right, or okay. The worm is starting to turn in what is considered acceptable or responsible parenting – but many still only know what they learned at the hands of their own parents. Pretty much all I learned from parenting my own was how bad I screwed it up, in spite of the best intentions. Luckily they all made it out alive and are functioning productive adults.
Last year our local children’s hospital announced they would allow no spanking on hospital grounds, it was a place for healing and spanking had no place there. From the uproar you’d have thought they said they were going to burn witches on the lawn. Change is slow, I’d prefer a parent that made a single bad decision with a desire to do better – than removing the child.
The indictment makes it into something else, something harder to to overcome – it most likely had more to do with his football career and the timing. Family service agencies have wide latitude in these areas without the need for a court order. If it had been you or I, we simply would have been arrested but even that would have been unlikely – the priority would have been to fix the problem. As horrible as the using a switch on a four-year old, it won’t support a child abuse conviction and other than a fine, probation and a mandate to attend parenting classes – all of which they could have done without an indictment.
What you may have heard about Peterson is that he lost a two year old son about a year ago. He wasn’t married to or living with the child’s mother – her boyfriend beat the child to death.
M D Reese September 12th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Thanks–I couldn’t remember that whole story. I agree–just because that’s what your folks did doesn’t mean that it’s right. In fact, in my life I learned more what NOT to do from my parents.
Tommy6860 September 12th, 2014 at 11:02 pm
I get it. My father whipped me with a razor strap a few times, even did it in front of a police officer to prove he can be a disciplinarian. I was even whipped once with an electric cord.
When I got older (teens) my father came to understand and knew better to even raise his voice at me. He knew he was no longer my father in any aspect other than biologically. He once asked me what I wanted to do when I got out on my own, I told him that I would be totally opposite of him. Raising two kids, I never even raised my voice at them, let alone even my hand.
pinballsdoll September 13th, 2014 at 9:12 am
im with you, my parents hit me for any little reason. i read comments from people saying “im a better person for it, i respect my parents for beating the s&%#t out of me” etc etc…my parents and i were never close as i grew older and they were standing there wondering why..i too never raised a hand to my kids and they are all fine, successful and happy. it takes a lot of patience to parent
rg9rts September 13th, 2014 at 9:14 am
Beats their kids too.
Tommy6860 September 12th, 2014 at 10:57 pm
I get what she is saying and that’s empathy speaking and rightfully so. It doesn’t mean Peterson doesn’t have to get help and suffer the consequences of his actions.
try google 2012 September 12th, 2014 at 8:00 pm
You’re usually level headed Carla, what happened?
Carla Akins September 12th, 2014 at 8:12 pm
Liquor.
Anomaly 100 September 12th, 2014 at 8:03 pm
Someone hacked Carla’s account!
M D Reese September 12th, 2014 at 8:05 pm
That’s the only thing I can figure, too. Or maybe she mis-read it. This was not a “spanking”. This was a brutal beating.
mea_mark September 12th, 2014 at 8:30 pm
The permanent disconnect from father and child also has serious implications that can be very negative. Hopefully Peterson is not beyond helping. For the child’s sake this should be addressed with the best interest of the child in mind. I think that is what Carla was trying to get at.
M D Reese September 12th, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Well, yes, of course. And number one is to prevent his father from beating him.
Carla Akins September 12th, 2014 at 8:12 pm
Laughing.
juicyfruityyy September 13th, 2014 at 12:25 am
Parents have been arrested for doing less. A couple of people i know are serving life sentences. There is alot of talk about Parenting Skills/tools but not alot of teaching. These people go to jail because they have committed a crime.. When i look at the child’s marks. They resemble the marks that the slaves used to receive. I hope that the child is receiving good counseling. Of course, dad will be footing the cost.
Carla Akins September 13th, 2014 at 1:05 am
This is true, and I’ve seen parents do far worse. I’m not excusing Peterson’s action or the seriousness of them. I’m just not ready to terminate a child’s relationship with a parent for a single incident of this nature. We can’t remove every child – if the investigation uncovers other findings I would be the first to feed to the woodchipper – but on the face of it, this appears to be a fixable problem. Parenting sources run the gamut but Peterson can afford the best approved by his local social services department.
Kathy Dunigan September 13th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
who said this is a single incident…….this is the one that got him burnt! the little boy said Dad has lots of belts and a whooping room………..not 1st time, …believe me!
M D Reese September 12th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
…but he’ll still be able to play in the Big Game, won’t he?
Seriously, why are people defending this? My stepmom used to get drunk and slap me in the face until she got tired, and my father used to beat my stepbrother with whatever was handy. I would never ever ever do that to a child–or anyone. It was wrong in the 50s and it is wrong today. And just because the buybull promotes child abuse, that doesn’t mean that civilized people in 2014 should condone it.
whatthe46 September 12th, 2014 at 8:02 pm
that’s not a spanking. idiot.
M D Reese September 12th, 2014 at 8:08 pm
I don’t get the “spanking” description either. This was a beating–and by the looks of the poor kid’s wounds, it was done in a rage.
tiredoftea September 12th, 2014 at 9:01 pm
It is indeed the National Felons League. Why in hell is this league, these teams, held in such high esteem? We are a nation of idiots.
juicyfruityyy September 13th, 2014 at 12:35 am
It’s held in such high-esteem because it generates a huge audience/fans. it generates big profits. A lot of direct and indirect money is made from these games. I don’t watch football. But no matter where I go. If there is a TV; a football game will be on it.
crc3 September 13th, 2014 at 9:35 am
Profits a.k.a. money is what “makes the world go round”. It will also destroy the world. The worship of the money “god” is not approved by the real God and man will suffer the consequences in ways that cannot be calculated. In other words…WE ARE DOOMED…
Steven Glynn September 12th, 2014 at 9:01 pm
Another Goddamn abusive man, who happens to work in the NFL. And the stupid religious tweet, as if it provides some emotional salve. That kind of crap isn’t the salve this child needed after he abused it. Roger, you have another bite at the apple….
jasperjava September 12th, 2014 at 9:43 pm
The religious tweet is probably to show the Biblical basis for his horrible child abuse. You know, “spare the rod and spoil the child”.
There were cases of horrific child abuse, including deaths, related to a “biblical parenting” book a while back.
Booya Bible September 12th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
LOL I said that same thing before reading your comment!
Kathy Dunigan September 13th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
I’m in prison and I have found the Lord!!!!! what a joke…Don’t ever use God that way!!!!!!!!!!!!
juicyfruityyy September 12th, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Growing up, that is what parents used, switches. They would have to had arrested over 60% of the State. The parent parents used switches, In this case, the child was left with multiple whips and bleeding whips. Which showed force and excessive whipping…This falls more into the abuse category. I didn’t read what the child had done to deserve this. But I wouldn’t be leaving him with dad.
jasperjava September 12th, 2014 at 10:22 pm
What do you think a four-year-old could have possibly done to “deserve” mistreatment of this kind?
juicyfruityyy September 12th, 2014 at 11:52 pm
I have no idea. Like I said. It falls into child abuse.
Kathy Dunigan September 13th, 2014 at 6:52 pm
I think he just took away a video game gadget from another child…….just a kid thing………really worthy of his punishment….jerk!
Boardwalker September 12th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
I got the switch as a child (and the belt, and even the hairbrush). That was about 50 years ago. I even sometimes had to go cut my own switch from the bush. (That was the worst, knowing what was coming.) It hurt, very much, and left welts. But he went WAY overboard with it! A few quick switches on the lower legs is painful enough to get a kid’s attention, although I personally don’t believe in striking children in any way. He beat him viciously all over his body, and made him bleed. You can easily see from the damage done that he was in a rage when he beat him. There is no doubt in my mind that this is severe child abuse. He deserves to spend some time in prison for this. And that Bible verse? I couldn’t make heads or tails out of it. If that’s his justification, he’s got other problems, a well as rage.
fancypants September 12th, 2014 at 10:46 pm
GOD is watching you Adrian peterson
bahlers September 13th, 2014 at 1:57 am
After his son was whipped, did he take a private jet back to MN, I am a little confused as to why the wounds were still bleeding in MN, unless Adrian continued to hit his son when taking him back to his mother.
Kathy Dunigan September 13th, 2014 at 6:49 pm
the boy did not go home til a week later when the Mom THEN took him to the hospital and pix were taken then…..can you imagine a week before what he looked like? sicko……..that’s what he is!
liberalMD September 13th, 2014 at 7:56 am
I got my share of spankings or whippings as a child when I misbehaved and I think I learned a little something from each of them. While I didn’t enjoy getting them,, I realized afterwards that I had done something or said something to deserve it. So I’ve always been a little ambivalent when there started to be the outcry about spanking children.
That having been said, the wounds on the child seem a bit excessive. Are we certain they were a result of the whipping and not from some other reason? I not infrequently will encounter a child that has wounds or scratches which are a result of an illness and not from trauma. If they are a result of the spanking, perhaps a little counseling of the guy would be more appropriate. Many of us go directly from a “wild-child” teenager to nurturing parent with very little training or advice; few of us have a degree or even a course in parenting by the time our first child is born. It has to be one of the most difficult responsibilities we encounter in life.
rg9rts September 13th, 2014 at 9:13 am
You are a sick puppy AND SO ARE YOUR PARENTS.
liberalMD September 13th, 2014 at 9:36 am
….said the pot to the kettle…….
rg9rts September 13th, 2014 at 9:49 am
I was NEVER beaten….Puts me miles ahead of you because I know that you don’t have to beat and bully to have discipline.
A concept like working with and not for someone…something YOU’LL never wrap you tiny mind around
liberalMD September 13th, 2014 at 5:05 pm
How do you know anything you have said? You are an angry person and in the same way that you have been verbally abusive to me in this conversation I would expect that you would be physically abusive in person. You’re the one that needs help…..badly!!!!
Kathy Dunigan September 13th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
oh my, I hope you don’t have children!
Luis BigPapi Vera September 13th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
You dumb bitch….do you see these whippings? ? I had my share too but this goes as abuse you dumb as cunt..God you are ignorant. .go play in traffic
Kathy Dunigan September 13th, 2014 at 6:46 pm
he ADMITTED it…. everything……plus he has never been an at home father he has 5-7 kids out there, just sending money to their mommas….he doesn’t want to be an everyday dad. face it he can’t control his anger and could have killed that FOUR year old just for being a FOUR year old…………..That was pathetic………HE is pathetic……..he has a whooping room in his home,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pinballsdoll September 13th, 2014 at 9:05 am
holy hell….the comments i have read elsewhere are appalling….wasnt everyone ready to hang ray rice this week for knocking out his smaller, yet adult, girlfriend?? This is a 4 yr old..think about how big and jacked up AP is and imagine that force against a defenseless child …he’s been indicted, so now what NFL??
rg9rts September 13th, 2014 at 9:12 am
NFL is on a roll….this clown is another one with a sense of entitlement that PUTS HIM ABOVE THE LAW…I would only let him have supervised visitation and a 6 month long course in parenting plus have some one beat him in kind and leave the same marks…He just doesn’t get it.
R J September 13th, 2014 at 10:49 am
As someone who received a few whipping from my mother, I am thankful for them,because raising a black male in the Bronx N.Y. in the 70’s and 80’s, her job was to make sure her son did not end up in the prison pipeline or an early grave. There are those that will say she could have done this or she could have done that,until you raise a young black male in America there is nothing you can tell me. I understand those that say they grew receiving whippings from the parents,and now they have no relations with their family,but that is not me,each situation is different I have a great a relationship with my mother, I view her actions as a course correction in life,took me to the Navy,and then on to college.
amy burris September 13th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
To each there own of coarse , but i do think that teaching children to solve conflict with violence is not the way. violence begets violence. To me it’s just like screaming at your children to be quiet. Parents need to set the example, and if the example is I hit you when you do something wrong, what is that teaching them?
R.J. Carter September 13th, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Many’s the times I had to go get a switch from the tree…
John September 15th, 2014 at 11:24 am
I agree w you RJ and personally believe we shouldn’t “spare the rod” (Proverbs 13:24) when it concerns our kids & discipline…problem is, this is 2014 and not as accepted as it was in the years you mentioned. My grade school principal (1986) took a huge wooden paddle to my ass for acting up and that was the first & last time for me. That sort of thing will never be allowed in modern society. The pics of Peterson’s 4 year old’s wounds, in my opinion are too much. Theres a diffrence between a spanking vs a spanking in anger. At the same time I know some kids in my neighborhood who could use a good old fashioned ass whoopin. Better now than later by the police.
SynicInSF September 14th, 2014 at 5:46 am
That guy is crazy talking religion. And he doesn’t believe he has done wrong. He has done wrong.
Robert Downer September 14th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
I have no problem with an open hand swat to the back side but this….this is over kill and he NEEDS to be out of the NFL for life…..its that simple
Dave Nantz September 15th, 2014 at 6:45 am
4 years old? Geesh. That is awful.
Dalia September 15th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
I hear all the comments on discipline vs non discipline. Its a personal decision how each parent decides to get the message across. But if you do opt for physical discipline I will say this…. There is a huge difference between discipline and abuse. A child should not be disciplined when your upset because you can easily loose control. Spanking a child with an object instead of your hand is not good. Because you cannot measure the force you are striking your child with. In addition you also have to consider the child’s age.
These pics of this 4 yr old boy are clearly evidence of him being striked repeatedly with excessive force. If disciplined appropriately there would of not been cuts or bruises bottom line.
Taking responsibility doesn’t mean excusing yourself by saying well this is how I was disciplined growing up in Texas. It doesn’t mean it was right! In addition as someone else mentioned..times have changed and there is no tolerance for child abuse…This is taken very seriously. You can loose your career behind something like this.
My message to Adrian is simple: We all make mistakes. Your kids, family, friends and fans will respect you if you come from a humble place and take responsibility for your actions by admitting you made a mistake. Seek counseling for anger management and parenting classes.
My advise from one parent to another. The key is for us to learn from our mistakes.