Grandfather accused of brutally disciplining grandchildren he ‘treated like dogs’

BRUCEVILLE-EDDY, Texas. (KWTX/Gray News) - A man in Texas is accused of brutally disciplining his grandchildren and treating them like dogs.

Cody Wayne Ainsworth, 52, was arrested and charged with three counts of injury to a child.

Bruceville-Eddy Police Chief Michael Dorsey learned of the allegations when he responded to a call for help at a residence in the 600 block of First Street on Nov. 19.

The mother of the children told the police chief that she got into an argument with her stepfather, identified as Ainsworth, because of the way he disciplined the children.

The woman told the police chief that on one occasion, her 6-year-old son was taking a bath and used Ainsworth’s body wash to make bubbles.

Ainsworth allegedly got “extremely mad,” placed the boy’s hand on the dinner table, and “repeatedly used [his own] hand to beat the [boy’s] hand on the table.:

Ainsworth’s wife told Chief Dorsey that he 52-year-old speaks angrily to the children as if they were adults. The wife recounted an incident in which Ainsworth made his other grandchild, 7, go to the corner.

When the boy sat down in the corner, Ainsworth forcibly grabbed the boy and forced him to stand up.

Ainsworth’s wife also provided Chief Dorsey with several recordings of Ainsworth cursing and threatening the boys.

According to the affidavits, Ainsworth is allegedly heard in the recording making the following threats:

• “If you look off one more time, you’re getting whooped.”
• “Touch that remote one more time, and you ain’t got to worry about TV no more.”
• “Let me catch you go through that door with one more piece of (expletive) food, you won’t be able to (expletive) eat no more, because I will make sure you can’t eat.”
• “I’ll (expletive) kick your a**.”
• “I don’t give a (expletive) if you gotta piss. You will wait until you get up in the morning. You can piss all over yourself. I don’t give a (expletive).”

In a portion of the recording, Ainsworth’s wife is allegedly heard confronting him about how Ainsworth treats the boys.

“I’m tired of you treating them like they are (expletive) dogs. You talk to them like they are grown a** people, instead of like children. Do you know that is child abuse?” the woman is heard asking her husband.

According to the affidavits, a nurse and teacher at Bruceville-Eddy ISD also documented injuries suffered by the boys.

One of the boys told the nurse and teacher he was playing football with his brother when he tackled his brother, “grandpa Cody” allegedly, then tackled him and hurt the child’s back.

The teacher documented the boy “frequently reported multiple physical discomforts weekly,” the affidavit states. “These complaints have included, but are not limited to: stomach, feet, cheek, chin, and elbows hurting.”

When the teacher asks the boy why it’s hurting, he never has an explanation and simply replies, “I don’t know.”

Chief Dorsey was provided with photos that documented the boys’ injuries and abrasions, the affidavits state.

During a forensic interview with Child Protective Services, one of the boys alleged his “grandpa Cody gave him a whooping on his hand.”

The other boy told investigators “he is scared of grandpa Cody, and grandpa Cody used a belt to give him a whooping on his stomach.”

Ainsworth is being held at the McLennan County Jail.