Bemidji Woman Charged After Crash Involving Child

Nell Christine Rearick, 65, faces three criminal charges after allegedly slapping a girl across the face and throwing her to the ground by her hair inside a Bemidji home so unsanitary that a responding deputy said it burned his throat and lungs within 15 minutes.

Rearick was charged Wednesday in Beltrami County District Court with child endangerment, contributing to the need for child protection services, and domestic assault. The charges stem from a December 9 incident at her home on 1st Street East.

According to the criminal complaint, Beltrami County Sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic assault report. When a deputy arrived, Rearick was crying and said, "I'm sorry; I've never got this mad and didn't mean to do it."

Rearick told deputies the child had a therapy appointment that day but refused to attend. When the girl talked back to her, Rearick said she slapped the child across the face. The girl then kicked toward Rearick, who grabbed her by the back of her hair and threw her to the ground in the kitchen, the complaint states. The child reported that the assault caused her pain and fear, particularly when her hair was pulled and she was thrown down. She said she had lived at the residence for several years.

The responding deputy described severe unsanitary conditions inside the home, noting that his throat and lungs began to burn after breathing the air inside for approximately 15 minutes, despite not being allergic to cats or overly sensitive to smells. The complaint references animal feces and mold present in the home.

After being arrested and read her Miranda rights, Rearick acknowledged the conditions had gotten bad and said she anticipated law enforcement would eventually step in. She said she is not disabled and capable of cleaning the house, but needs help from the girl to do so. Rearick said she is retired and does not work.

The child was placed on a 72-hour hold with social services following the incident.