Abused girl says her name is 'idiot' as mum Jennifer Deden and Clarence Reed are arrested for child abuse in Arkansas

The girl's mother Jennifer Denen and her boyfriend Clarence Reed were arrested. Photo / Arkansas Police

Police have arrested a mum and her boyfriend after her four-year-old daughter was found tied to furniture. When asked what her name was the girl replied 'idiot'.

The Sentinel-Record reports that Jennifer Denen, 30 and her boyfriend Clarence Reed, 47, of Arkansas were taken into custody on Friday and charged with domestic abuse.

Child welfare officers said the girl had clearly been abused. She had deep purple bruising on her bottom, lower back and legs, a black eye, a swollen right cheek, a bruise on her forehead, healing scars across her back and dried blood in the corner of her mouth. She had marks on her wrists where she had been restrained and appeared to be malnourished.

The girl's mother Jennifer Denen and her boyfriend Clarence Reed, pictured, were arrested. Photo / Arkansas Police

Officers asked the girl her name, and she reportedly responded, "idiot."

During an interview, Denen stated she saw Reed strike the 4-year-old on the bottom with a plastic bat.

Denen allegedly admitted that she didn't seek medical care for her daughter and that Reed regularly referred to the child as "idiot" while in her presence.

Reed allegedly admitted to striking the girl on the bottom with a thick wooden paddle, but not a plastic bat. He also allegedly admitted that he and Denen had used zip ties to secure the child to her bed after she was observed climbing the cabinets in the kitchen.

Reed stated he did refer to the child as "idiot," but claimed it was only as a joke.

The pair are each being held on $US500,000 bond and are set to appear in court on August 23.