Springfield couple arrested after young girl tied up, severely beaten

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Springfield couple is accused of beating and tying up a young girl at their home multiple times.

Willie Wardlow III, 32, and Ashley Wardlow, 40, were arrested Sunday and face various charges — including aggravated battery of a child, unlawful restraint and endangering the life or health of a child.

An arrest report from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office said a woman went to Springfield police to show officers pictures and videos of the girl tied up and bound in a local home.

The girl, who is younger than 10 years old, was also shown wearing a blindfold in the images.

Police later checked out the area and found the girl and Willie Wardlow blocks away. The arrest report said the girl was "extremely malnourished" and had multiple injuries from being hit and abused.

She was taken to the hospital with injuries, including a brain bleed, broken bones in her right hand and burns to her left hand.

Police said her hand was covered with a sock and was cut away at the hospital because of the burn damage.

She was hospitalized with "critical and unstable injuries." As of Sunday, police said, the girl was medically sedated and being monitored for brain bleeds.

The arrest report said Willie admitted to binding the girl with a bandage around her legs and midsection to keep her from reaching for things. He told police that the girl's head injuries came from her falling multiple times onto the same spot on her head.

Willie also admitted to tying her up on the kitchen floor while she slept to keep her from moving, according to the arrest report.

As for the burns, the arrest report said, Willie told police that the girl burned her hand by reaching into the oven while it was on. He said her malnourishment was caused by the girl intentionally not eating.

Ashley Wardlow told police that she tied up her daughter multiple times as shown in the video, because Willie had told her to quit grabbing things.

She did not admit to any other form of battery and stated she believed Willie hit the girl.

The woman who told Springfield police about the incident said she saw Ashley spank the girl multiple times while she was tied up.