West Virginia Couple Face 12 Felony Child Abuse Counts Over 3 Children

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 27

Erica Sayre, 45, and Clifford Sayre, 46, were charged after a Jackson County investigation found three children allegedly endured years of abuse and neglect in their Evans home.
12 felony counts were filed in total: Erica Sayre faces three child abuse counts and three neglect counts, while Clifford Sayre faces three neglect-with-injury counts and three neglect counts.
Investigators said the children were struck, strangled, denied food, water and bathroom access, and punished with acts including barefoot runs on gravel, soiled items in beds and forced hair cutting.
Sheriff's deputies said scars, medical exams, photographs and corroborating forensic interviews supported the allegations; one child said, "I can't go back to that home."
All three children were removed from the home, and Sheriff Ross Mellinger described the case as a real-life "house of horrors" while urging reports of suspected abuse.