Ridge Malone Watkins Charged with Aggravated Child Abuse in Muscle Shoals
Ridge Malone Watkins, 35, from Muscle Shoals, has been charged with aggravated child abuse in connection with the alleged abuse of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son.
Court documents reveal that the child’s mother sent disturbing videos of the abuse to a friend, who then alerted authorities. One of the videos, filmed on January 28, shows Watkins allegedly punching the child while the boy was in his playpen. The video reportedly shows Watkins tending to other children before suddenly turning toward the boy, yelling at him, and punching him in the back three times with a closed fist.
Investigators reviewed additional videos and photos that depicted further injuries, contributing to the charges against Watkins.
On May 9, Watkins was indicted and placed in the Colbert County Jail with a bond set at $150,000. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
