Latest news with #KatlynnKey
CBS News
16-05-2025
- CBS News
Southern California family pleads not guilty to child torture and abuse charges
A San Bernardino County family pleaded not guilty to torturing and abusing six children living in their Victorville home. Kenneth Key and Tina Marie Sheffield Key, both 60, and their daughter Katlynn Key, 23, were arrested following a months-long investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Crimes Against Children Detail. Detectives claimed the family subjected the six children, who are between the ages of 5 and 16, to "severe and prolonged abuse and neglect." "It is obviously physical, mental and nutritional abuse, both with hands-on and lack of caring for these kids," District Attorney Jason Anderson said. Anderson said the crimes date back a decade and only came to light when one of the older children asked for help at a store in February. They have been out of the Keys' house for months. "You're dealing with a situation where repetitive abuse of young people by the people who should have the legal and moral obligation to take care of them and didn't," Anderson said. "We think that's an aggravating case and appropriate to ask for no bail in this situation." Kenneth Key, Tina Marie Sheffield Key, both 60, and their daughter Katlynn Key, 23, appeared virtually during their arraignment. KCAL News The court granted the district attorney's request to remand the family without bail. During the short hearing, Kenneth looked visibly confused by the charges, and Tina appeared frail, using a walker. Their daughter Katlynn sat quietly. Investigators said the children were subjected to daily beatings, strangulation to the point of unconsciousness and punishments of withholding food and water for days. "The older children documented years of abuse through written documentation and photographs that were captured on iPads and cameras," Anderson said. The district attorney's office will request medical evacuations and bone scans on the children. "Obviously, that's going to tell a big story to the depth and degree of the abuse," Anderson said. It's unclear how the children came to live in the home. The Department of Children and Family Services said the Keys had guardianship of children, meaning they did not have much contact with county services. Initially, authorities described the Keys as foster caregivers for the kids. The six children are not biologically related and come from multiple families. "We think because of the years of abuse that these individuals pose a significant risk to the community and should not be released," Anderson said. The Keys have been assigned a public defender and have another court appearance scheduled for next week.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Quaint suburban home that's hid horrifying secret for years... as three people are arrested for vile crimes
A man and two women have been arrested for the allegedly torturing foster children at their home in a quiet southern California suburb. Six children, between the ages of 5 and 16, suffered a campaign of 'severe and prolonged abuse and neglect' at their home in San Bernardino County, police said. Married couple Kenneth Key and Tina Key, both 60, and their daughter Katlynn Key, 23, were arrested on suspicion of torture on Monday after a three-months-long investigation, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said. Officials launched an investigation into the alleged abuse on February 13 after a tip was called into the child abuse hotline. The children were removed from the home in the 13000 block of Helena Drive at that time. Details about the alleged crimes have not yet been released, but authorities allege their investigation revealed the suspects 'neglected and abused' six children. Neighbors, however, claim the rarely saw the children, telling KTLA that the 'kids never came outside' and were 'only allowed to go to the backyard'. The three suspects have been booked at the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino and are each being held in lieu of a $1,000,000 bail. The investigation into the alleged abuse and torture at the Helena Drive residence remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact San Bernardino County Sheriff's Detective Katie Merrill at 909-890-4904. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact the WeTip Hotline at 800-78CRIME or report tips online. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Mara Rodriguez has also urged community members to report any suspicion of abuse. 'Any kind of child abuse or neglect going in a home, whether it's a biological home, a family home, foster home, reach out and report that,' she told KTLA. 'We would much rather do an investigation and find that everything is just fine in that home than find out several years later that there was some abuse.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arrests made in ‘prolonged, severe' torture of 6 children in Victorville
Three people in San Bernardino County have been arrested in connection with the alleged ongoing torture of six foster children between the ages of 5 to 16, authorities announced Tuesday evening. In a news release, officials with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's Crimes Against Children Details launched an investigation into 'severe and prolonged abuse and neglect' at a home in the 13000 block of Helena Drive in Victorville. Authorities said that during the investigation, 60-year-old Kenneth Key, 60-year-old Tina Key and 23-year-old Katlynn Key were identified as suspects. Neighbors on the street, who did not want to be identified, told KTLA that they rarely saw the six children, except occasionally when they got into the family car. 'Other than that, these kids never came outside like normal kids. They were only allowed to go to the backyard,' one woman added. Gunfire erupts during Ventura County road-rage incident, investigators say Officials said at the conclusion of their investigation, all three suspects were arrested and booked at the Central Detention Center for torture. Bail was set at $1 million apiece, authorities added. Details of the ongoing abuse and neglect of the children were not released. 'Any kind of child abuse or neglect going in a home, whether it's a biological home, a family home, foster home, reach out and report that,' SBCSD spokesperson Mara Rodriguez said. 'We would much rather do an investigation and find that everything is just fine in that home than find out several years later that there was some abuse.' Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact San Bernardino County Sheriff's Detective Katie Merrill of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at 909-890-4904. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip Hotline at 800-78CRIME or leave tips online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- CBS News
Three arrested for alleged torture and abuse of six Victorville children
Three adults were arrested after a months-long investigation revealed the alleged torture and abuse of six children in San Bernardino County, deputies said. Investigators with the Crimes Against Children Detail found that the children, between the ages of 5 and 16, were subjected to "severe and prolonged abuse and neglect to six children" in the 13000 block of Helena Drive in Victorville, according to a release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. They arrested Kenneth Key and Tina Key, both 60, and Katlynn Key, 23, and booked each for torture. They remain behind bars in lieu of $1 million, deputies said. No details were provided on the alleged crimes. Their investigation began back on Feb. 13. Anyone who knows more is asked to contact detectives at (909) 890-4904.
