Kentucky woman gives ‘party dot’ tattoo to her toddler son, faces child abuse charges

A Kentucky woman is facing a child abuse charge after allegedly giving her 22-month-old child a tattoo, according to authorities. The suspect was identified as Brook McDaniel, 27. She was taken into custody on Monday (May 4, 2026) after troopers with the Kentucky State Police received a child abuse complaint, as reported by LEX 18 and WNKY.

Witnesses reportedly told investigators that McDaniel claimed “he wanted the tattoo,” described as a black dot, and referred to it as a “party dot.” Troopers from Post 15 were called to a Monticello, Ky. home, located near the Tennessee state line, where they located McDaniel and her 22-month-old son, the local news outlets reported, citing records.

The suspect told the troopers that she "[had] been tattooing her leg, and the child walked up to her and stuck his arm in the way of her tattoo gun," according to the arrest citation, as quoted by the outlets.


The citation also revealed that several witnesses informed the troopers that McDaniel claimed it was a "party dot tattoo" and that her son wanted the tattoo. She was charged with fourth-degree assault (child abuse) and was booked in the Adair County Detention Center.

Authorities highlighted in the citation that her son had a "black dot tattoo on his right forearm with redness around the area. Witnesses then told the troopers that McDaniel claimed that "he wanted the tattoo" and referred to it as a "party dot." The citation obtained by the outlets also states that troopers contacted the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) after they observed "deplorable" conditions in the home.

Arrest records viewed by PEOPLE show McDaniel has been charged with fourth-degree assault (child abuse) and was booked in the Adair County Detention Center on May 4. She is being held on a $5,000 cash bond, as reported by WKYT.