Crime

Father Charged with Child Abuse in St. Croix After Alleged Beating Leaves Bruises

ST. CROIX — One man is facing felony child abuse charges after allegedly beating his minor daughter hard enough to leave a bruise. According to court documents, the child’s mother presented herself to a police station on the night of December 31, 2024, to file a report. In her statement, she alleged that her former partner Dillan Mars had injured their 2-year old daughter days earlier. The child was in his care on December 29, the woman said, when she received a text message from Mr. Mars which indicated that he had “whooped” the little girl because she was fussy and refusing to take a shower after spoiling herself. The text message reportedly contained an admission that the child was now bruised as a result, as well as an admission that he “overdid” it. The woman also reported receiving a text message from Mr. Mars that threatened to kill their two children. She shared the messages and photos of her daughter’s bruises with officers, and told police that this was not an isolated inc...