Vonda Ferguson on suicide watch in jail

A Springfield mother convicted of beating and raping her adopted children, was released from the hospital, and transported to the Clark County jail on Saturday afternoon.

Vonda Ferguson tried to committ suicide after a jury found her guilty on all 32 counts of child abuse, child endangering, and rape on Friday night.

2 News got an exclusive interview with Vonda Ferguson, as she was getting booked into jail. Ferguson said she did not plan to appeal the case, and she was not surprised by the outcome.

Ferguson was dressed in jail stripes and had a white bedsheet wrapped around her, as she walked into jail. Her hands and legs were shackled. She greeted our news cameras with her characteristic nod and a smile, and was softspoken and polite.
2 News asked Ferguson why she had swallowed the sleeping pills.

"Umm, I don't even recall doing so," said Ferguson.

Prosecuters said Vonda, and her husband James Ferguson, beat their five adopted children with belts, sticks and hammers. They burned them with irons, choked them, and Vonda is also accused of raping two of those children with the handle of a toilet plunger.

After a three week trial, it took a jury about six hours to reach a verdict. As Common Pleas court judge read the word "Guilty" 32 times, Vonda's face turned somber, and she shook her head. Behind her pursed lips, no one would have guessed, Ferguson was hiding a bunch of small blue sleeping pills.

Deputies found the pills in her mouth in the holding cell, while searching Vonda Ferguson. She told Sgt. Phil Sanders she had taken them because she was not guilty.

Deputies swiped her mouth, and called medics. Ferguson was rushed to the hospital to be checked out, as a precaution.

Now the church-going, former social worker who adopted five foster children with her husband says, she is giving up the legal fight.

"I'm tired of fighting," said Ferguson.

2 News asked her if there was anything she wanted to say to the children who testified against her.

"No, they're doing good," said Ferguson.

Throughout the trial, defense attorney Jim Marshall tried to portray the children as liars, who had made up the accusations against the Fergusons. We asked Ferguson if the children had, indeed, lied.

"It doesn't matter now. As long as they're okay, that's all that matters to me," said Ferguson.

Ferguson was placed in an isolation cell in the Clark County Jail. Sheriff's officials said she would be on suicide watch, and would have to wear a special quilted smock, so she could not try to hurt herself anymore.

"It's until our mental health therapists can determine that she's okay and no longer a harm to herself," said Clark County Jail Sergeant Joy Danley.

Ferguson will be sentenced on December 7th. Union County prosecuter David Phillips said she could head to prison for more than 65 years for these crimes.