SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A ripped off toenail, intentional burns, and shock collars are just some of the horrific details alleged by victims in the child abuse case against a Carlisle couple.
Rachelle Lynne McCarter Kitchell, 34, and Jeremy Edward Kitchell, 38, are facing charges related to injuries sustained by multiple children after the victims’ grandmother contacted Indiana State Police on May 28 with concerns.
Jail logs indicate the couple was arrested on July 23 following an investigation by Indiana State Police.
A probable cause affidavit reveals the details of what police said the couple’s alleged victims went through between July of 2022 and May of 2024.
Three victims were interviewed by police, each said that Rachelle uses a shock collar with a remote to shock them. One child told police that Rachelle used a hair iron to purposely burn the child’s hand, heel, and leg. Another told police that Rachelle used pliers to rip off the child’s toenail and then used a torch lighter to burn the injured area caused by the toenail removal.
“[Name removed] states on one occasion of abuse, Rachelle had blind folded [name removed] in the kitchen. [Name removed] states that Rachelle picked [name removed] up and put the bottom of their foot down on a hot burner. [Name removed] sustained a severe burn through multiple layers of skin on the bottom of their foot.”
Probable Cause Affidavit filed in Sullivan County Court
The PCA indicates that the grandmother was able to provide police with pictures of the children’s injuries. In a search of the couples’ Gill Street home, police reported locating a hair iron that matched the description given by the victim as well as two shock collars with a remote.
Police said Jeremy admitted that he had seen the injuries on the children, but had not taken them to get medical care in response. Police also noted that Jeremy had not filed any reports to DCS.
Court records show the two face the following charges;
- Rachelle L. McCarter Kitchell, 34
- Domestic battery with serious bodily injury to a person under 14 (x3)
- A level 3 felony
- Neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury (x3)
- A level 3 felony
- Domestic battery with bodily injury to a person under 14 (x3)
- A level 5 felony
- Domestic battery with serious bodily injury to a person under 14 (x3)
- Jeremy E. Kitchell, 38
- Neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury (x3)
- A level 5 felony
- Neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury (x3)
Jeremy Kitchell was given a bond of $45,000 with 10% allowed and has since bonded out of jail. Rachelle L McCarter Kitchell was given a bond of $225,000 with 10% allowed and as of publication of this article remains in custody at the Sullivan County Jail.
Rachelle next will appear in court for a pretrial conference on September 30 with a jury trial tentatively scheduled for November 19. Jeremy is next set to appear in court on September 26 for a pretrial conference with a jury trial set for November 12.
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