What allegations do Chantel Hayford and Jerry Menees face in Missouri?

Chantel Hayford and Jerry Menees face 24 felony charges for severe child abuse and neglect, including allegations of shooting children with BB guns and forced fights.

Did Chantel Hayford trade custody of her children?

Yes, Chantel Hayford is accused of trading custody of her three children for a phone and data plan in July 2025.

What happened to the children allegedly abused in Potosi, Missouri?

The children were allegedly locked in a chicken pen, shot with BB guns, forced to fight, and deprived of education and proper care.

Home / Crime and Justice / Missouri Parents Held BB Gun BBs on Kids in Chicken Pen

Missouri Parents Held BB Gun BBs on Kids in Chicken Pen

16 Jan

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Summary

Parents allegedly shot children with BB guns while locked in a chicken pen.
Couple accused of organizing 'fight nights' and abusing children.
Mother allegedly traded custody of children for a phone and plan.

Missouri Parents Held BB Gun BBs on Kids in Chicken Pen

In Potosi, Missouri, Chantel Hayford and Jerry Menees are facing 24 felony charges related to severe child abuse and neglect. Authorities began investigating the couple last December after receiving allegations of abuse. The accusations include the horrifying act of locking Hayford's 13- and 14-year-old sons in a chicken pen, screwing it shut, and then shooting them with a BB gun.

The abuse reportedly extended to forced 'fight nights' where the children were made to fight each other, along with physical beatings and the administration of drugs and alcohol. Court documents reveal that Hayford also allegedly traded custody of her three children—including a 17-year-old daughter—to another adult in July 2025 in exchange for a phone and a service plan.