Bradenton mother charged with beating girl with a broom, telling her to die

BRADENTON -- A Bradenton woman has been charged with beating her daughter with a broom, jumping on top of her, choking her and telling her to die.

A judge Wednesday ordered Millie Ann Seabrook held in jail on $5,000 bond on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.

"We have some serious allegations here," Judge Robert Farrance told Seabrook during a court hearing Wednesday.

Seabrook's daughter, whose age was not included in the arrest report, has been placed in protective custody.

Seabrook, 37, was arrested Tuesday.

Seabrook shook her head as a prosecutor listed her arrest history, which includes charges of battery, aggravated assault, grand theft, aiding and abetting, giving a false identification to law enforcement and violation of probation.

Assistant Public Defender Anne Hunter objected saying a $5,000 bond was essentially no bond based on Seabrook's financial situation. Hunter also said Seabrook had ties to community, having lived in the Bradenton area for 37 years and her most recent conviction was eight years ago for a misdemeanor.

Farrance said he took all that into account in setting the bond at $5,000 instead of higher.

Seabrook mumbled to herself as she was led out of the courtroom.

According to the Bradenton Police Department, the victim told police her mother found out the victim had been on her Facebook account. The victim also said Seabrook was intoxicated and took a plastic broom and struck her four times on the right arm with the handle of the broom.

Police reportedly did not see any injury to the victim at the time, but the victim said Seabrook then jumped on top of her and proceeded to choke her while saying: "Die (expletive) die," according to a report. A small scratch was visible on the victim's neck, police reported.

The victim was transported to the office of the Child Protection Team of Manatee Children's Services in Bradenton, where senior case coordinator Kristina Krudys spoke to her. According to a report, the victim said she knew the difference between a truth and a lie and told Krudys she was there because Seabrook struck her with a broom and choked her.

The victim then told Krudys the same information she had provided to a CPS investigator and police earlier in the day, according to a report. The victim also said she was able to breathe while Seabrook was choking her, but it was hard. Police said the victim also clarified the incident had taken place after her mother had gone out for the night and returned. Nothing more was asked of the victim, according to the report.

After the interview, Seabrook was arrested and, during an interview, confirmed she had gone out and had several alcoholic beverages prior to returning to the residence. Seabrook said the victim was asleep and there was no confrontation when she returned home.

According to police, Seabrook said the victim is making up these allegations because she wants to live with her father. She denied any wrongdoing.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Bradenton mother charged with beating girl with a broom, telling her to die ."