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CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

Woman arrested for three counts of alleged child abuse

UPDATED: DECEMBER 29, 2022 AT 11:23 AM
BY
Digital Content Producer

MIDVALE, Utah — A 32-year-old woman was arrested over the weekend in connection to three counts of child abuse, police say

According to the probable cause statement, deputies from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an alleged child abuse case. 

The father informed police that his wife allegedly abused their three children. This occurred as he was on a Facetime phone call with them. The suspect has been identified as Malynna Riklon.

Additionally, the father also told deputies that he and his wife had been fighting because she thought he was being unfaithful to her while he was at work. 

According to the probable cause statement, the suspect called the husband while he was working. When he didn’t answer, the suspect began to allegedly send him pictures of his clothing that she had cut up with a pair of scissors. 

Recording of woman and the alleged child abuse

In addition to the pictures, the probable cause statement also states the suspect sent the father audio recordings of her allegedly beating her children. According to the probable cause statement, the suspect can allegedly be heard beating the children with a hanger. The children can also be heard crying.

The father hung up the phone and immediately returned home from work.

After being read her Miranda rights, Riklon waived her right to an attorney. She told authorities that she was upset with her husband. She said he was drinking kava at work instead of coming home from work.

According to the probable cause statement, the suspect says that the children were the only ones she could take her frustrations out on. When asked where she hit them, the suspect couldn’t remember. 

The probable cause statement says the children had welts on their arms, hands and face. They also had bumps on their heads. 

Riklon has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail in connection to the three counts of child abuse. Additionally, she has also been booked on a single count of criminal mischief. 

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