Cops: Mom, angry over citation, hit daughter on head with pot, punched face

ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando mom was arrested after authorities said she beat her 13-year-old daughter so badly the child had to be hospitalized.

Officials say the mom even pulled a gun on her daughter.

Allyson Roofe was arrested late Sunday night and is charged with several counts of aggravated child abuse.

The 35-year-old woman was allegedly angry after being cited for leaving the family dog chained in 120-degree heat without food or water, investigators said.

Officials said Roofe took her aggression out on her daughter, hitting the girl over the head with a metal pot, punching her in the face and dragging her by her hair.

Roofe cried in court Tuesday as she faced a judge, and her children, for the first time since her arrest.

The victim, her 11-year-old sister and 5-year-old brother were visibly shaken, seeing their mother shackled and facing some serious jail time.

The Department of Children and Families asked in court that her three kids be taken away.

The abuse didn't stop there, officials said.

Roofe allegedly pulled a loaded .38 caliber revolver on the girl.

"In this day and age that certainly rises to a high level of attention," said Carrie Hoeppner with DCF.

The victim, in fear for her life, got her grandmother on the phone, officials said.

Arrest papers reveal the victim overheard her mother saying her children "will be dead before the police get here."

WFTV