Nine Children Removed from Home, Two Arrested in Paragould Child Neglect Case

PARAGOULD, Ark. — Two people are each facing five counts of felony battery and nine counts of felony child endangerment after authorities removed nine children from their home for alleged neglect and malnutrition, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Paragould Police Department.

Between Dec. 19, 2024, and Dec. 22, 2024, the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline received two separate reports regarding nine children in Paragould between the ages of 1 and 12 not being in school, not receiving medical treatment, and not having adequate food. One of the reports alleged the parents avidly smoked marijuana.

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Between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, 2025, all nine children were seen by the Arkansas Children’s Hospital after being removed by DCFS. All nine were determined by the hospital’s Team for Children At Risk to be at risk for further neglect. Six of the nine children were diagnosed with child physical neglect. Five of the children were diagnosed with severe malnutrition. One was diagnosed with moderate malnutrition. Three were admitted to the hospital for severe protein-calorie malnutrition.

The affidavit states that the children told hospital staff and investigators that they were often only given white rice to eat. The report said they hadn’t attended school or been to the doctor or dentist since at least March 2024.

Both defendants tested positive for marijuana in a screen performed by DCFS. The defendants also admitted to DCFS that they had been dodging contact with their workers.

Michael A. Harris, 32, and Beatrice D. Russ, 29, were both arrested on five counts of Second-Degree Domestic Battering, a Class C felony, and nine counts of First-Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Minor, a Class D felony.

Information about each bond was not available as of this report.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.