(File)
VICTORVILLE, Calif. (TCN) — Two parents and their adult daughter face charges after allegedly abusing and torturing six foster children for years.
Per a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, officials began investigating allegations of “severe and prolonged abuse and neglect” of the victims, who were all between the ages of 5 and 16.
Neighbors told KTLA-TV that they didn’t see the victims often, but they would sometimes see them get into the family car. One woman reportedly said, “Other than that, these kids never came outside like normal kids. They were only allowed to go to the backyard.”
According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, investigators determined the victims’ foster parents, 60-year-old Kenneth Key and 60-year-old Tina Key, as well as their adult daughter, 23-year-old Katlynn Key, allegedly subjected the children to “years of physical, emotional, and mental abuse.”
Prosecutors allege that the children were beaten daily and strangled to the point of unconsciousness. Kenneth Key, Tina Key, and Katlynn Key allegedly withheld food and water from the victims for days as a form of punishment.
On May 14, the district attorney’s office said all three suspects have been charged with six counts of torture and one count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, and prosecutors are adding a special allegation of personal infliction of great bodily injury. Tina Key, Katlynn Key, and Kenneth Key were arrested and booked into the San Bernardino County Central Detention Center on $1 million bail each.