Ohio Mother Sentenced After 11-Year-Old Found “Wandering Alone” Told Police She Tied Him Up and Beat Him With Pipes and Cords
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO — An Ohio mother has been sentenced to probation after her 11-year-old son told police he was tied up in the basement, beaten with electrical cords and metal pipes, and left restrained for hours before being found wandering alone inside a Target store. The disturbing claims led to a criminal case that ended Tuesday with a judge ordering three years of probation for 51-year-old Stacie Gilmore.
Child Reported Abuse After Showing Up Alone at Target
According to the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, the boy came to the attention of police in 2023 when he was found wandering through a Target without an adult. When questioned, he revealed a pattern of abuse inside his Youngstown home — telling investigators his mother zip-tied him, tied him up in the basement, and struck him with cords and pipes.
Following a three-day trial in October, Gilmore was convicted of unlawful restraint, two counts of endangering children, and domestic violence. She was acquitted on a kidnapping charge that could have carried a 10-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors: Boy Was Restrained and Beaten While Tied Up
During opening statements, Assistant Prosecutor Caitlyn Andrews told jurors the boy had described being tied up while his mother struck him repeatedly. Jurors heard testimony suggesting the abuse was ongoing and severe, with physical punishments involving electrical cords, metal pipes, and zip ties.
Gilmore denied the allegations, insisting the boy lied to get her in trouble because she imposed strict rules — including limiting school, internet access, and outings.
Mother Claims She Was Overprotective, Not Abusive
Testifying in her own defense, Gilmore admitted she had once tied a bed sheet to her son’s leg to keep him from leaving the house at night but denied ever using zip ties or beating him.
“I’ve never restrained [the boy],” Gilmore said in court. “I am not a criminal. I am a beacon to this community. I help people that are on drugs.”
She claimed her son frequently ran away or wandered off and that she struggled to keep him safe. She also denied ever tying him up in the basement, saying she only made him sleep on a couch after he broke several beds.
Judge Orders Probation, Mental Health Treatment
Gilmore, who already spent several months in jail while awaiting trial, received a sentence of:
- 3 years of probation
- 55 additional days in jail (to complete an 8-month total)
- Mandatory mental health treatment
- No contact with her son, or she risks three years in prison
The child has since been placed under the care of the Mahoning County Children’s Services Board.
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