Fayetteville Police Charge Mother With "Brutal" Abuse of Teen

According to police, Bonnie Jackson had allegedly been beating her son behind the closed doors of their Fayetteville home for several years. Thursday night, she was being held on a $16,000 bond in the Cumberland County jail.

Investigators say the abuse case is one of the worst they have ever seen.

"Evidence shows us that the child has scarring on top of scarring. In fact, it's a very brutal situation where he's basically covered with injuries almost from head to toe," says Sgt. Tim Hayworth with the Fayetteville Police Department. "The child was beaten with a belt, extension cords. He was burned with a hair dryer. It's just a severe case of child abuse and very brutal."

Although the 17-year-old was going to school, police are not surprised that the alleged abuse was not detected.

"There are no injuries on his face," Hayworth said. "The injuries on his arms go down to where they could be covered with sleeves, and he probably kept clothes on in situations where nobody could see the injuries."

There was another brother in the home who was also taken into protective custody, but police do not believe he was abused.

"Everything seemed ordinary," neighbor Aaron Killens said. "It's just sad to hear about. Just by looking at them in the yard, you would never know."

But neighbors report hearing about one violent incident involving an errand.

"She told him to go to the store, and then she punched him on the porch," neighbor Donya Hostler said. "He ran to the store and ran back home."

Jackson is facing two charges including felony child abuse. Investigators say that she may face more charges.