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A couple from Pennsylvania was arrested for allegedly confining their five children in a room described by authorities as a “dungeon” at their home in Redstone Township.
James Russell Kahl and Carly Kahl face charges that include endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. These charges followed the findings of Pennsylvania State Police troopers who visited the residence on August 8 and discovered the children living in “deplorable conditions,” as reported by KDKA News.
“It’s sickening, that’s the only word that I can use to describe what we saw and what those children went through,” Trooper Ally Wilson commented, according to WTAE.
What did James and Carly Kahl allegedly do?
The investigation commenced on August 8 after troopers were requested to assist Fayette County Children and Youth Services (CYS) upon receiving a tip about the living conditions of the children, aged 5 to 14, as detailed in court documents reviewed by KDKA News.
Upon arrival, authorities observed boarded windows, walls smeared with feces, and the presence of fleas. Inside the residence, there were no beds and only limited food and clothing available.
It was revealed to the police that the couple’s five children were allegedly confined in a bedroom that had no door handle and was secured by three deadbolts from the outside.
“This room functioned as a dungeon with video cameras hardwired to the father’s room,” police said in a statement obtained by WPXI.
When James was confronted about the conditions, he told police and a caseworker that he would “not be removing the locks from the bedroom door for any reason,” according to a criminal complaint.
James and Carly Kahl’s children say their parents tasered one of them
The children, who were immediately removed from the home and placed into the care of CYS after the visit, later told authorities that James smoked marijuana during the day and didn’t want to care for them. The children also alleged that James once made his wife Carly taser one of them as punishment, court records state.
“There’s no reason to be using a device like a stun gun, which is less lethal, not non-lethal, against a child,” District Attorney Mike Aubele told WPXI of the allegations.
During a search of the family’s home earlier this week, police recovered a stun gun, along with a replica pistol, surveillance camera, drugs and drug paraphernalia.
According to Aubele, authorities were alerted to the situation by a “brave family member” who came forward to report the suspected abuse.
“I’m hoping that these parents go to jail and they answer for what they’ve done,” Wilson said after the arrests were announced.
