ANCHORAGE—The 36-year-old Anchorage mother who gained international notoriety for alleged child abuse by Tapatio hot sauce goes on trial Wednesday morning.
The six-member jury was selected Tuesday for the trial of Jessica Beagley, who’s been charged with a child abuse misdemeanor.
Beagley appeared on the Dr. Phil show in November, asking for help disciplining the young boy she had adopted from Russia.Beagley's husband, an Anchorage police officer, also appeared in the show.
But it was the footage of the mother shoving her son into a cold shower and forcing hot sauce into his mouth that caused an international uproar and prompted Russian officials to re-evaluate American adoptions. According to Beagley's attorney, Bill Ingaldson, the Office of Children's Services investigated the case and "found there was no abuse." The adopted boy and his twin brother both still live with the Beagleys and their biological children. Beagley is expected to take the stand at some point during the trial, Ingaldson said.
Her attorney says her adopted son could also testify.
Russian news organizations have sent reporters and photographers to Anchorage to cover the trial, which is expected to last four days.
