In a shocking case of child abuse recently exposed in Wugang, Hunan Province, a divorced mother who was prevented from visiting her children for a long time finally saw them after five years, only to discover that they had been subjected to long-term abuse by their biological father and stepmother. The abuse included physical assault, starvation, confinement, and even forced ingestion of feces, as well as scalding of their private parts with hot water.
According to a report by mainland Chinese media outlet “The Elephant News,” Ms. Ding from Xianning, Hubei Province, stated that she married Peng in Wugang, Hunan in 2011 and had three children with him. When they divorced in 2019, they agreed that the eldest daughter and youngest son would be raised by their father, while the second daughter would be raised by her. At that time, the youngest son, Xiaoyuanbao (pseudonym), was just over a year old and was taken back to Hubei for upbringing until the age of three, before being sent back to Hunan.
Following the divorce, Ms. Ding faced various obstacles when trying to visit her children. It wasn’t until April 2025 when she forcibly entered the school that she saw her son. She described her son as covered in bruises, with his right ear completely bruised, a large lump on his forehead, bruising all over his body, and marks of beating on his arms, back, and legs. She mentioned that he smelled bad, his hair was matted, and even his scalp had been torn off.
Ms. Ding immediately reported the abuse to the authorities and took her child for medical treatment. The medical examination results showed that Xiaoyuanbao had bruises covering an area of 4522 square centimeters on his body, accounting for approximately 47% of his entire body surface area, which constituted second-degree minor injuries and implicated potential criminal offenses.
As the son gradually opened up, he revealed more details of the abuse to Ms. Ding. She stated that after Xiaoyuanbao returned home at the age of 5, he was frequently beaten with tools like wrenches and mop handles, and even forced to bend over while his legs were lifted and slammed onto the ground, resulting in a visible lump on his forehead and multiple concave and convex scars on his scalp.
Ms. Ding also disclosed that her son had been kept in a small room for an extended period, where he was not allowed to use the toilet. If he was found defecating inside the room, his stepmother forced him to “eat the feces.” On another occasion, the stepmother, who was a nurse specializing in burns at a hospital, turned the water heater to around 70°C and forcefully directed it towards the child’s lower body, causing severe scalding injuries to his genitalia and testicles.
The eldest sister, Xiaoya (pseudonym), similarly faced long-term abuse. She was forced to take on all the household chores since elementary school, getting up at 5:30 am every day to hand wash the entire family’s clothes. Any slight mistake would result in severe beatings. Once, when a few grains of rice dropped on the floor and were not cleaned up properly, the stepmother brutally hit her head with a dustpan, causing profuse bleeding and requiring dozens of stitches.
The siblings also suffered from chronic hunger. Xiaoyuanbao was prohibited from having lunch at school, and if there was any record of spending on his campus card, he would be beaten when he returned home. While their father and stepmother went out to eat, they did not leave any food for the children. The children were once caught rummaging through the garbage late at night in search of food.
Furthermore, during the cold winter, the siblings were inadequately dressed and even locked inside the house during school breaks.
With continuous reports from Ms. Ding, the biological father, Peng, and stepmother, Liu, have been arrested and charged. The siblings have been taken back to live with Ms. Ding in Hubei Province.
Ms. Ding expressed, “Physical wounds can be treated, but it’s unknown how long it will take for the emotional wounds to heal.” Xiaoyuanbao has become silent and withdrawn, often crying alone and repeatedly saying, “This is the safest place.”
The incident has sparked strong outrage on social media platforms. Some comments described the abuse as not just mistreatment but extremely cruel crimes that must be severely punished. They emphasized the need to enhance protection for minors and ensure that those who abuse children face legal consequences for their actions.