Grand jury to hear abuse case against BG pair

Published 6:00 am Monday, January 27, 2025

Two people accused of criminal abuse against their children will have their cases heard by a grand jury.

Joseph Msendele, 33, and Byaombe Saidi, 27, both of Bowling Green, appeared Friday in Warren District Court for a preliminary hearing.

The two are each charged with three counts of first-degree criminal abuse, having been arrested Dec. 11 by the Bowling Green Police Department.

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According to court records and testimony, police were called to a Bowling Green school that day after personnel reported suspicious injuries on two children, ages 8 and 5.

The children disclosed to school personnel that their parents “whooped” them at their home, an arrest citation said.

The 8-year-old reported that both Msendele and Saidi made him and the 5-year-old lie face down on the floor and whipped them with a charger cord.

“The (8-year-old) had horseshoe shaped scabs and bruise marks on his lower left back and right shin,” Msendele’s arrest citation said. “He also had multiple bruises and scabs on his back, both arms and on both legs.”

Bruises and marks were also found on the arms of the 5-year-old, who also had a black eye and a scabbed laceration near that eye, records show.

Also, the 8-year-old reported that Saidi placed him a tub of cold water as a form of discipline.

Police made contact with Msendele and Saidi at their home, where they were detained and brought to BGPD for interviewing.

Saidi acknowledged using a stick to discipline the children, according to police.

“(Saidi) admitted to hitting both children with the stick on various occasions,” her arrest citation said. “She also advised she uses cold water baths as punishments.”

During her interview, Saidi told police she is not allowed to watch Msendele when he disciplines the children, records show.

Msendele denied causing any injuries or physically disciplining the children, according to police.

The schoolchildren and a 2-year-old sibling were treated at an area hospital, where the 2-year-old was found to have bruises and potentially burns on his face, chest and back that arrest citations described as “uncommon for children of his age.”

Msendele and Saidi were released from jail Dec. 13 after posting $6,000 cash bonds.