BEDFORD – A jury heard Scott Blattert’s oldest daughter explain how her father whipped her and her siblings with belts and glue sticks. She also testified how he would punch, elbow, and strangle them as a form of punishment.
“It was a daily occurrence,” she testified.
The oldest daughter was able to capture the beating of her younger sister on video. The jury watched a portion of the video during opening statements. In the video, Blattert is seen smacking the child with a belt 27 times, slamming her face down into the couch cushion, telling her “You are a rebellious, wicked animal” and then slamming his elbow into the back of the child’s neck.
The oldest testified she just was able to only capture just a small portion of the beating on video.
“They would hit us with belts, glue sticks that were 8 to 10 inches long, and wooden spoons,” she added. “They experimented with dowel rods but found the glue sticks left fewer marks. Mom would keep a list of our transgressions and would give it to Dad when he got home and he would administer the punishment.”
“He always hit us on the back unless we move, something about a Bible verse and a rod for the fool’s back,” she added.
That Bible verse is from Proverbs 26:3-12Â King James Version A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back. Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Her testimony will continue this morning at 8:30 a.m. in Lawrence County Superior Court I with Judge John Plummer III presiding.
Blattert, of Springville, is facing felony charges of aggravated battery when the assault possesses a substantial risk of death, strangulation, three counts of domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, and five counts of domestic battery with bodily injury on a person under the age of 14.
His wife and mother to the children, Cherry Blattert is also charged in the case. She is facing charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury and domestic battery. Her court date is pending.
Scott Blattert is being represented by Justin and John Boren, of Boren, Oliver & Coffey LLP in Bloomington.
Presenting the case for the state are Deputy Prosecutors Joshua Scherschel and Sarah Cummings.
Justin Boren told the jury Blattert has a right to discipline his children and Blattert believes in corporal punishment. He also said DCS visited the home and was not able to substantiate any abuse. However, after an Indiana State Police investigation, all 10 children were removed from the home on October 31, 2019.
The oldest testified there was no way to get help. Phones were kept out of reach, there were no neighbors, and they were homeschooled. A 911 call was placed to the Sheriff’s Department two days before the children were removed from the home after their mother accidentally left a phone on a charger overnight.
“The punishment was becoming more violent, more frequent, and lasting longer,” she added.
During a prayer session, a female toddler fell off the couch.
“Dad grabbed her head and shoved her down onto the floor and began hitting her,” she testified. “She had a cut on her head and blood was running down into her eyes. I took her to the bathroom to clean her up and Dad came in and gave me a bandaid to put on the cut.”
The teen was able to snap a photo of the injury and it was presented to the jury. The teen also testified to her and her siblings’ numerous beatings.
