A reserve police officer and his wife have been taken into custody, facing charges for allegedly inflicting “cruel and unusual punishment” on both their biological and foster children.
Branch County Prosecutor Zachary W. Stempien announced that Matthew and Cassandra Boatrite, aged 34 and 32 respectively, are facing multiple charges following an investigation conducted by Michigan Child Protective Services and the Michigan State Police, as reported by WTVB.
The couple has been charged with six counts of second-degree child abuse, four counts of strangulation, six counts of fourth-degree child abuse, and two counts of domestic violence. In addition, Matthew Boatrite is charged with an extra count of domestic violence, two counts of assault with a weapon, and one count of felony firearm.
Upon these charges, Matthew Boatrite was promptly dismissed from his position as a reserve officer with the Quincy Police Department. Meanwhile, Cassandra Boatrite was placed on leave from her role as a bus driver for Quincy Schools, according to the Sturgis Journal.
The case involves seven children, including two foster placements, one child under Matthew Boatrite’s guardianship, and four who are either biological or stepchildren of the couple.
All seven children, ranging in age from 7 to 15, have been placed under state care.
According to a probable cause statement, the children told investigators that they were forced to drink dish soap mixed with water, that they were hit with a leather belt and a board as punishment, and that they were frequently handcuffed behind their backs and forced to sit of long stretches of time.
Four the children said both parents choked them. Two of the foster children reported that Matthew Boatrite lifted one of them by his neck and pinned him to a batroom wall, pointing a gun at his head. He also pointed the gun at the other foster children and at younger children during the same incident.
Investigators found three unsecured and unregistered guns at the Boatrite residence, along with a board, belts, and handcuffs.
The couple was arraigned on Thursday and ordered held on $200,000 bonds. If they post bond, they are allowed no contact with the children involved in the abuse and not unsupervised contact with any minors.
