Brass knuckles are made from a piece of metal or hard plastic shaped to fit around the knuckles. These weapons can cause serious damage. States like California, Michigan, Illinois and Vermont prohibit the possession, manufacturing, sale or use of brass knuckles. (Oleksandr Kostiuchenko/Shutterstock)

CONNELLY SPRINGS, N.C. — Authorities in North Carolina say two women have been arrested on felony child abuse charges after the children of one of the women were hit with a pair of metal knuckles in their home.

Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant said in a Facebook post that the children were hospitalized with serious injuries Friday after an anonymous complaint led to the arrests of the children’s mother, Jessica Renee Sanders, 26, and Natalie “Shane” Childress, 25, both Connelly Springs residents.

Whisenant said in the post that Sanders told Child Protective Services investigators that her children weren’t home, but deputies found them hiding.

Whisenant didn’t say how many children were hurt and did not release their ages. The children were taken to UNC Health Valdese and then to a child trauma center, according to the post.

The News & Observer reports that Childress and Sanders were in the Burke County Jail on $250,000 secured bonds pending court appearances on Monday, jail records showed. It could not be determined Sunday if Childress and Sanders have retained attorneys.