A couple from California and their grown daughter are facing charges related to child abuse and torture, following allegations of prolonged physical, emotional, and psychological mistreatment of six children under their guardianship.
The individuals — Kenneth Michael Key, age 60, Tina Marie Sheffield Key, age 60, and Katlynn Marresa Key, age 23 — are facing six counts of torture in addition to one count of child abuse as per the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the children range in age from 5 to 16, and the investigation began in February.
According to a complaint lodged on Wednesday, the alleged abuse entailed daily physical assaults and episodes of strangulation leading to unconsciousness. Furthermore, the children were reportedly punished by being deprived of food and water for several consecutive days, as stated by the DA’s office.
A sheriff’s department spokesperson told ABC News that the investigation began in February when a call came into a child abuse tip line. The children were immediately removed from the home , said spokesperson Mara Rodriguez.
The relationship of the children to their abusers was also not made clear, although the DA’s office said the children were all in “guardianship care.”
A neighbor who only identified himself as “Junior” told KNBC that the group “seems like a normal family.”
“I didn’t see anything strange or hear any screaming from their house,” he said.
The Keys were being held on $1 million bonds each, news reports said, but jail records indicate they are not eligible for bail.
