Midwest Karen accused boy, 7, who couldn't swim of bullying another child - then KICKING him into hotel swimming pool

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:12, 3 June 2026 | Updated: 01:12, 3 June 2026 A Missouri woman allegedly kicked a seven-year-old boy who could not swim into a hotel pool - because he was 'mean' to another child. The disturbing incident unfolded at a hotel in Sedalia, Missouri on Memorial Day weekend when investigators say Penny Badgett, 63, sent the child plunging into water more than five feet deep. Cops with the Sedalia Police Department were called to the Comfort Inn on West Broadway Boulevard at around 8:20pm on May 23 following reports that a child had been assaulted inside the hotel's pool area, according to court documents.  When police arrived, they spoke with the victim's mother, who claimed Badgett had kicked her seven-year-old son into the swimming pool. Investigators later learned the boy could not swim. Court records state the child was pushed into an area of the pool measuring approximately 5½ feet deep, creating what prosecutors allege was a substantial risk to his safety. The incident quickly escalated into a criminal investigation after family members confronted Badgett over what had happened. According to charging documents seen by Law & Crime, the boy's aunt approached the woman after witnessing the incident.  Missouri woman Penny Badgett, 63, was charged after police say she kicked a seven-year-old boy into the deep end of a hotel swimming pool in Sedalia Court documents state the child was unable to swim and was pushed into water approximately 5½ feet deep Police allege surveillance footage shows Badgett standing behind the child and waiting for him to sit down before pushing him into the water During that confrontation, Badgett allegedly claimed she acted because the child had been 'mean to another child.' Authorities noted that Badgett had no relationship to the boy and had never interacted with him before the encounter. Police reviewed surveillance footage from inside the pool area and say the video painted a troubling picture of what occurred. 'After reviewing camera footage, there is clear video of Badgett standing behind [the boy], waited for him to sit down, and then used her raised foot to push him into the pool,' a probable cause affidavit states. Investigators allege the footage showed Badgett standing behind the child and waiting before making contact. The child later told authorities he was frightened by the incident. According to court records, the boy 'expressed he was scared' after being pushed into the water. Using the hotel's electronic door-lock registry and surveillance footage, officers were able to identify and locate Badgett inside the hotel. Court records say the frightened child later told authorities he was scared after being pushed into the water Police confronted her and informed her she was under arrest. Court documents indicate that Badgett initially requested a lawyer and declined to answer questions. However, according to investigators, she later made an incriminating statement after officers told her they had video evidence. 'After informing her that she was under arrest and telling her that I had video of her kicking someone into a pool, she stated "I know what this is about, I pushed him,"' the affidavit states. Badgett was subsequently taken into custody and booked into the Pettis County Jail. She has been charged with abuse of a child and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, creating substantial risk. Authorities initially held her on a 24-hour hold before formal charges were filed. Court records show a warrant was issued carrying a $15,000 bond condition. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.