Sumter mother charged with child cruelty after video surfaces of water being poured on sleeping baby's head for "payback"

A 33-year-old Dalzell woman has been charged with cruelty to children stemming from an investigation into a video showing the woman pour water on her child's head while the infant slept in her crib.

A warrant from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office alleges Caitlin Alyse Hardy caused “ill treatment, unnecessary pain and suffering and/or deprivation of necessary sustenance” to her 9-month-old daughter on Jan. 26 when she poured a bottle of water on the child's face while she was sleeping. The child woke up coughing after water was poured on her face a second time, according to a release from the sheriff's office.

Hardy, of Camden Highway, reportedly recorded the incident herself and posted it to her Facebook page.

A post from Hardy's Facebook page includes an image from the video and text that reads, "Payback for waking me up all kinda (sic) times of da (sic) night." Her social media profile can no longer be found through a search.

Screenshots and video of the incident were shared by other Facebook accounts, including one that shares information about alleged child abuse.

Hardy is charged with cruelty to children and was booked at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. She was released after posting a $1,500 personal recognizance bond Wednesday after a warrant was issued on Tuesday.

Numerous concerned individuals contacted the sheriff's office about the video and screenshots of the incident after it was posted to Facebook, states the release, and Sumter County Department of Social Services has been notified to also conduct a thorough investigation into the incident for the benefit and safety of all children in this home.

Sheriff Anthony Dennis said the charge against Hardy will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.