Heartless Stepmom Tortures 6-Year-Old to Death in Brutal Campaign Over Bedwetting
A heartless stepmother, Jessica Bundren, was sentenced to life in prison after brutally torturing her six-year-old stepdaughter, Arianna Rose Battelle, to death in a horrifying case of child abuse. The abuse, which stemmed from the young girl wetting the bed, revealed a sickening campaign of punishment and cruelty.
When police arrived at the family home, Bundren initially claimed that Arianna had tragically died after falling down the stairs. She insisted the child had fallen earlier in the day and had been put to bed, only to later find her unresponsive. Arianna’s lifeless body was discovered on the floor, covered with a sheet, and she was declared dead at the scene.
However, officers quickly noticed multiple injuries on the young girl, including visible bruises and belt marks. Upon further investigation, Bundren confessed to hitting Arianna six times as punishment for wetting the bed, as detailed in an affidavit, reported by the Mirror US.
A belt found in the house matched the imprints on Arianna’s body, uncovering the truth that Bundren was not alone in her actions. Arianna’s father, Justin Hopper, 33, also confessed to using the belt to discipline Arianna and her twin sister. Authorities revealed that both parents had resorted to paddles and severe punishments for minor offenses, such as taking too long to finish lunch.
Initially, Hopper denied knowing the extent of the abuse inflicted by Bundren. However, police found damning evidence on his mobile phone, which contained daily updates and photos of the girl’s injuries, exposing his complicity. “He knew about the marks and abuse because he was updated, almost daily, with photos of the girls,” the affidavit stated.
During Bundren’s trial, a medical expert delivered a chilling testimony: “Arianna was beaten to death. She was tortured. Her death was slow and painful.” In June 2024, Hopper was convicted of intentionally causing serious bodily injury to a child and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Bundren received a life sentence in November 2023.
Arianna’s aunt, Courtney Onstott, expressed relief following the verdict. Speaking to Texas CBS affiliate KBTX, she said, “She took away my niece’s life, and she deserves to spend the rest of her life having no life… Justice was served today.” Onstott added, “Now [Arianna’s surviving twin] doesn’t have to wake up every day and worry about whether her monster’s going to be walking around free or not.”