Kentucky Couple Face Charges in Shocking Child Abuse Case



Content Warning: The upcoming article includes distressing details of child abuse.

A couple from Kentucky is facing charges related to multiple instances of abuse after a pre-teen girl sought refuge at a neighbor's house, claiming she had been subjected to beatings with a metal pipe and various forms of mistreatment.

As per a criminal complaint acquired by PEOPLE, law enforcement responded to the Ashland residence on Jan. 25, where they quickly observed severe burns on the girl's arms and body, along with a deep cut over one eye and a burn mark on her hand.

The victim recounted being beaten with a metal pipe, enduring burns on a stove, and receiving a blow to the head with an object. Subsequently, she was taken to a local hospital, where doctors identified several healing broken bones, according to the complaint.

On Jan. 30, Austin Frazier, 27, and Kayla Frazier, 31, were indicted on various charges, including sexual abuse, criminal abuse, strangulation, wanton endangerment, and kidnapping.

Among the accusations, Austin Frazier is alleged to have struck the child with a skillet, fractured her arm using a metal instrument, and confined her inside a gun safe, based on details from the obtained indictment charges.

Kayla Frazier is accused of dragging the child outdoors in extreme temperatures with minimal clothing, hitting her head with a cellphone, and compelling her hand onto a hot stove, as per the indictment.

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Additionally, Kirk Douglas Mounts, 47, faces charges of criminal child abuse, unlawful imprisonment, and failure to report child dependency/neglect. Edward Goins is charged with criminal abuse, kidnapping, and failure to report child dependency/neglect/abuse. Their specific roles in the incident remain unclear.

As of now, Kayla and Austin Frazier have not entered a plea, with an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 9. Goins has a hearing set for April 30, while Mounts' case status is uncertain.

Attorneys for the suspects were not immediately reachable, according to PEOPLE.

 

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