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PD: Ring video leads to Phoenix mother's arrest for allegedly assaulting her son

Nicole Lynne Marker and William Johnson
Posted at 1:16 PM, Sep 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-20 14:06:50-04

PHOENIX — Ring video obtained by Phoenix police reportedly shows multiple cases of assault on a child by his mother and her boyfriend, according to court documents.

Phoenix police report that on April 22, they were alerted by officials at a school located near 32nd Street and Bell Road regarding a young child with a burn on his hand.

The boy allegedly accused his mother's boyfriend, William Johnson, 28, of burning his hand with a cigarette.

When questioned by police, the boy's mother, 26-year-old Nicole Lynne Marker, showed the detectives videos from her Ring account, which showed the inside of her apartment. Investigators were later granted a search warrant, requesting from Ring.com videos from Marker's account from January 1 through April 22.

Phoenix police received over 2,200 video clips from inside and outside the child's home from Ring.com. Police say the videos recorded dozens of incidents of assault by both Marker and Johnson, and in the footage, the child can be heard "wailing and sobbing."

Court records show that Johnson repeatedly struck the child in the face and hands. In other incidents, Marker punched the child in the face and chest.

Police say the abuse occurred as punishment while the child did homework.

Doctors at Phoenix Children's Hospital examined the boy and reportedly found "discoloration and scabbing on his neck, back, and flank." The victim said the injuries were caused by Johnson hitting him with a belt.

Johnson and Marker were arrested at their home on Tuesday morning. Police would like to charge Johnson with 11 counts of aggravated assault and Marker with three counts of aggravated assault on a minor.

If you suspect a child is being abused, the Arizona Department of Child Services has resources available to report the issue to a social worker. You can call the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445), and will be asked for information about the child, as well as the nature of your concerns. You can also get more information from DCS about reporting abuse or neglect online.