She said her 22-month-old “got in the way.”
She also said he “wanted it.”
He is 22 months old.
On May 4, 2026, Kentucky State Police responded to a child abuse complaint at a home in Monticello. When troopers arrived, they found Brook McDaniel, 27, and her toddler son. The child had a black dot tattooed on his right forearm — with visible redness around the area.
McDaniel’s explanation: she was tattooing her own leg when the boy walked up and stuck his arm in the way of the tattoo gun. An accident.
Witnesses told a different story. Multiple people present told police McDaniel had intentionally given the child a “party dot” tattoo — and said “he wanted it.”
A 22-month-old child cannot consent to a permanent mark on his body. He can barely form sentences.
Officers also noted the home’s living conditions were “deplorable” and immediately contacted the Department of Community-based Services to assess the child’s welfare.
McDaniel was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault — child abuse. She is currently held on a $5,000 cash bond.
For the record: the minimum legal age for a tattoo in Kentucky is 16 — with written parental consent.
This happened five days ago.