Moorcroft woman arrested for child abuse, aggravated assault

A Moorcroft woman has been arrested on 16 separate counts of child abuse as well as one of aggravated assault and battery. Karey Hedlund's alleged victims accuse her of years of mental and physical abuse ranging from locking them in cages to withholding meals.

According to reports from a Crook County Sheriff's Office deputy, an investigation was launched at the beginning of June into a report of "abusive and neglectful behavior" by Hedlund towards some of her adopted children.

The victims reported incidents that allegedly include being struck with a wood backscratcher, the edge of a wood paddl...