Torture charges filed against 3 IE family members accused of abusing 6 children in their care
VICTORVILLE, Calif. (KABC) -- Three Victorville family members have been charged with torture in connection with the alleged abuse of six children who were in their care, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Kenneth Michael Key, 60, Tina Marie Sheffield Key, 60, and their daughter Kaitlynn Marresa Key, 23, were arrested Monday and later charged with six felony counts of torture and one count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, according to the San Bernardino County district attorney's office. Prosecutors also filed a special allegation of personal infliction of great bodily injury in the case.
"After an extensive investigation conducted by San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Crimes Against Children Unit, and Loma Linda University Medical Center Children's Assessment Center, it is alleged that Kenneth and Tina Key, and their adult daughter subjected all six children (aged four - sixteen), to years of physical, emotional, and mental abuse," the D.A.'s office said in a statement.
The investigation that led to the arrests was launched after authorities received a tip from a caller to a child abuse hotline.
"The abuse included daily beatings, strangulation to the point of unconsciousness, and punishments of withholding food and water from the children for a period of days," the news release said.
The Sheriff's Department had previously said the youngest victim was 5 years old.
Jose Martinez, a neighbor who lives next door to the defendants in the 13000 block of Helena Drive, told ABC7 that he was was in stunned disbelief when he learned of the allegations and arrests.
"I never heard any bad noises," Martinez said. "I would take out their trash, and see the cans were full of snacks, so I can't believe they didn't have any food or being denied clothing or stuff like that, because they were pretty normal.
"Nothing was suspicious at all," he added. "The kids would come out, I would give them popsicles and they would never mention anything to me."
According to Martinez, after authorities removed the children from the home in early February, Tina Key told him that she and the other two members of her family were being investigated for alleged child abuse.
"Tina was very in shock, she was emotional that they took the kids away," he said. "They denied everything. I mean, I never seen any problems. I've always seen the kids out here playing. It's a lonely neighborhood, so they kept to themselves, to be honest."
Asked about the children's appearance, Martinez said they looked "normal."
The defendants were each being held on $1,000,000 bail, authorities said. Their arraignment date is scheduled for Thursday via video at the Rancho Cucamonga Superior Courthouse.
Anyone with information about the case was encouraged to contact Detective Katie Merrill of the sheriff's Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at wetip.com.
UPDATE: This article has been updated to reflect that the children involved in this case were in guardianship care. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office initially stated that the children were in foster care.
