YouTube video prompts investigation by Putnam authorities

WINFIELD, W.Va. -- A YouTube video has led Putnam County authorities to open an investigation involving possible abuse of two young children.

Sheriff Mark Smith said his department received a tip Monday about a video of two young boys being held in front of one another and being encouraged by a group of older children and teens to fight and hit each other as well as scream profanities.

The video comes to an end when one of the children begins crying, Smith said.

Smith said the video was posted by a person with the user name "Emily Grabfaces" who identifies her residence as Hometown in Putnam County.

Smith said that as part of the investigation, his office is still in the process of establishing a location of the incident but confirms that Putnam County is the only investigating entity at this time.

State Department of Health and Human Resources spokesman John Law said his agency will look into the incident if the children can be located, according to The Associated Press.

The video had been removed from the Web site as of Tuesday evening.

Anyone with any information about the video or the children involved is asked to contact the Putnam County Sheriff at 304-586-0256.