Inset (from left to right): Gairelyn O’Donnell and Fred O’Donnell (Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Saratoga County Correctional Facility in Ballston Spa, New York (Google Maps). 

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office has detained Gairelyn O’Donnell and Fred O’Donnell, both aged 42, charging them with four counts each of endangering the welfare of a child. These charges reflect the severity and nature of the alleged misconduct.

Additional charges have been levied against Gairelyn O’Donnell, who faces a second-degree assault charge. In a parallel move, a minor has also been arrested under the same charge, highlighting the concerning involvement of younger individuals in this case.

The incident came to light when the sheriff’s office, while cooperating with another law enforcement agency, responded to a call at a residence in Corinth on November 5. Upon arriving and conducting an investigation at the scene, where at least four children were found, officers made the arrests based on their findings.

Investigators have reported that both Gairelyn O’Donnell and the minor allegedly used a “whip-like object” to inflict “significant bruising and lacerations” on the victim. This has raised alarms about the safety and well-being of the multiple children present at the home during the incident.

Both the woman and the minor are accused of striking another person with a “whip-like object” and causing “significant bruising and lacerations.”

After appearing before a judge for their arraignment, both Gairelyn O’Donnell and Fred O’Donnell were placed in the Saratoga County Correctional Facility. Fred O’Donnell was later released on his own recognizance.

The minor who was charged was placed in the custody of the Saratoga County Office of Children and Family Services. They will appear in court at a later date.

Deputies stressed that the investigation in this case is ongoing. Being convicted on a second-degree assault charge can land someone in prison for up to seven years in the Empire State.