Foster mother, son held in abuse

A North Las Vegas foster mother and her 16-year-old son were arrested Wednesday on multiple counts of child abuse.

Deborah Hill, 51, faces four counts of child abuse involving an 8-year-old boy and his 3-month-old sister, according to North Las Vegas police.

The children were placed in Hill's care on April 1 and stayed at her house on the 3700 block of Thomas Patrick Avenue, near the North Las Vegas airport.

They were removed April 6 when police suspected the children might have been abused, police said.

Police declined to disclose the extent of any injuries, citing the ongoing investigation.

Police spokeswoman Chrissie Coon said the children were not hospitalized.

Hill's son was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center on one count of child abuse. His name was not released because he is a minor.

Christine Skorupski, a spokeswoman with the Clark County Department of Family Services, said Hill registered as a foster parent on June 23 last year. Her license has been suspended because of the police investigation.

The two children were placed in the care of their grandmother, Skorupski said.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.