A man from Missouri is in jail after police say he hit his wife’s 12-year-old daughter in the head so hard that she passed out and ended up with a concussion.
Dustin Woodrow Pierce, who is being held at the Lincoln County Jail with a $500,000 cash-only bond, is now facing serious child abuse charges. If convicted, he could be looking at 10 to 30 years in prison. The incident happened in Lincoln County, Missouri, on the evening of November 22. Deputy Marcus Peebles from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance call just before 8 p.m.
When the deputy arrived at the house, he found the 12-year-old girl upstairs in a highly emotional state. She was crying uncontrollably, panicking, and repeatedly saying “no” and apologizing. The girl’s mother explained that she had been downstairs when the situation unfolded. She said Pierce, her husband, had told the girl to clean her room. When the girl refused, Pierce reportedly told the mother, “If you won’t handle this, I will,” before heading upstairs.
According to the mother, Pierce—who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs over 300 pounds—went to the girl’s room and hit her three times near her temple with the back of his hand. The force was so severe that the girl lost consciousness. The mother said she called 911 after witnessing her daughter collapse.
While the girl lay unresponsive, Pierce allegedly dismissed her condition, saying, “You’re fine, and you’re weak.” When the mother tried to intervene and told him not to touch the child, Pierce reportedly pushed her away and stormed out, saying he was going into town. As the girl regained consciousness, she was breathing heavily and screaming. By the time Deputy Peebles arrived, the girl was still struggling to stay calm.
Though the deputy didn’t immediately notice visible injuries, doctors at the hospital later confirmed that the girl had suffered a concussion. Further tests revealed she had significant brain injuries that affected her motor functions, leaving her unable to balance properly. She is now working with a physical therapist to recover.
Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Wood shared his concerns about the case, emphasizing the seriousness of striking a child in the head. “This isn’t just discipline—it’s abuse,” he said. “Hitting a child in the head is never acceptable.”
Pierce, a military veteran, reportedly struggles with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prosecutors revealed he is scheduled to begin intensive in-patient treatment for PTSD on December 30. They described Pierce as a danger to himself and others, noting his specialized military training.
Pierce’s bond hearing is set for Monday, and the case has left the local community in shock as they await further updates.
