BOYD COUNTY, KY COUPLE CHARGED WITH BURNS, BRUISES OF YOUNG CHILD

A Boyd County, Kentucky couple was arrested and an 8-year-old female was taken to the hospital very early Friday  morning after leaving an alleged abusive situation and seeking help from a stranger.

She found safety with a neighbor woman, who stated that she is grateful she was in a position to help a little girl who police say had been seriously harmed by two family members.

According to the arrest citation by the Ashland Police Department, the incident started at a home on 43rd Street in Ashland, when a woman, who was with her family around 6:30 P.M. Thursday evening, January 25, when she suddenly heard loud banging on her front door. 

The woman, who was identified as Megan Roe, said “it was very urgent knocking,” and when she answered the loud banging on her door, she was shocked at what she saw, finding a  little girl, who looked like she’d been hurt, and was covered in bruises.

“She said she’d been kicked out of her home and she was scared,” Roe said.

Megan Roe told police she allowed the 8 year old girl inside her home, and called 911, but before officers arrived, she heard more loud knocking.

Megan Roe said in an interview to Huntington, West Virginia TV news station WSAZ that this time it was two family members of the child, but Megan Roe did not open the door for them.

That was because it was when the girl identified the man and woman the child claimed that had caused her injuries. The couple kept knocking, but Megan Roe would not answer the door.

“They were pounding on our door,” Megan Roe said. “It sounded like they were kicking it.”

“Once I peeped out the window and saw who it was, I just had us all go toward the back of the house,” said Megan Roe.

When officers arrived at the area along 43rd Street in Ashland, the arrest citation said they identified the couple as Austin Fraizer, 27, and Kayla Frazier, 31, whose address is two houses over from Megan Roe’s home.

According to the arrest citation, the child told officers the couple beat her with a metal pipe, placed her hand on a hot stove, and threw something that hit her head.

The arrest citation stated police saw bruising on the child’s arms and body, a deep laceration over her eye, and a burn mark on the palm of her hand.

The arrest citation stated that the young girl was taken to the local hospital in an ambulance. According to the arrest citation, doctors say the child had several broken bones in various stages of healing.

Austin Fraizer and Kayla Frazier were both arrested by officers of the Ashland Police Department,and both were charged with:

• CRIMINAL ABUSE 1ST DEGREE-CHILD 12 OR UNDER.

Both Austin Fraizer and Kayla Fraizer were taken to the Boyd County Detention Center in Catlettsburg; with both their bonds set at $100,000 full cash only each. Their preliminary hearings are set for Wednesday, January 31, in Boyd County District Court.

Megan Roe, who is a mother herself, felt thankful that she was in a position to help.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Roe stated. “I can’t understand it.”

“When you see a child who has clearly undergone some very painful situations, for me, my instinct is to help that child, as I’d want someone to help my child,” Megan Roe said.

“I’m so grateful she was brave enough to run to a complete stranger’s house in the rain and in the dark to seek shelter,” said Megan Roe . “I’m so glad she was willing to run the risk. She didn’t know us. She didn’t know whether we’d help her and keep her safe, but she tried anyway. That girl was so brave and so courageous.”

Overall, Megan Roe summed up the whole ordeal involving the abused little girl running to her home to be rescued and the close potential confrontation with her abusers before police had arrived by describing the experience Ms. Roe and her family in just three words:

“It was terrifying,” Megan Roe claimed vigorously.