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Los Angeles Times
20-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
‘Just a normal family' neighbors react to allegations of child torture at Victorville home
The beige, two-story homes that line Helena Drive are the epitome of quiet, Southern California suburbia, but residents were shocked recently when they learned of horrific allegations against some longtime Victorville neighbors. Amid the block's plastic pools, basketball hoops and childrens bicycles, a couple and their daughter have been accused of torturing and abusing six children — some for many years. The San Bernardino County district attorney's office has charged Kenneth and Tina Key, both 60 years old, and Katlynn Key, 23, with six counts of torture and one count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death, according to court documents. Prosecutors said the adults tortured the children, giving them daily beatings and strangulating them to the point of passing out along with depriving them of food. The alleged abuse against some of the children went on for over a decade, according to the charging documents. 'We don't know what goes on in someone's home. It just hurts to hear,' said a stunned nextdoor neighbor, Jose Martinez. 'They could have come to us for help if they needed it.' On a recent morning, a lone minivan sat in the driveway outside the Key's home. A knock on the door went unanswered. Martinez said the children who lived with the Keys were regular fixtures outside their home in this High Desert community. 'They played outside all the time. There was never anything that gave us worry,' Martinez said. 'They were just a normal family.' The children helped Martinez put up his Christmas decorations and occasionally took his trash cans to the curb. When he was working as a pizza delivery driver, he would sometimes give the children pizza. They seemed happy and well-mannered, sometimes talking with him about their homework and classes. The children at the home ranged in age from 5 to 16, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials announced in a news release. Kenneth Key worked as a security guard and often talked about disciplining the children by giving them chores, but he never mentioned physically hurting them, Martinez said. 'He would ask me if my yard needed any weeds removed or anything like that,' Martinez said. Initially, authorities identified the children as being in the care of foster parents, but the San Bernardino County district attorney's office later clarified that they were legal guardians. The children were removed from the home on Feb. 13 after one of the teenage victims walked to a nearby Stater Bros. Supermarket and asked for someone to contact the police, San Bernardino District Attorney Jason Anderson told the news outlet the San Bernardino Sun. Some of the children wrote of the alleged abuse in journals, Anderson said. Neighbors said the children were not restricted from leaving the Keys' home and often interacted with their neighbors. After the children were removed from the home, Kenneth Key asked his neighbors to write letters of support that would speak about his character as a provider. Several neighbors did write those letters, according to residents on Helena Drive. 'He was the type of neighbor who would take the lead when there was illegal drug users in the street,' said one neighbor who declined to give their name. Kenneth Key would call the police when someone suspicious was walking through the neighborhood or he would confront them himself, the neighbor said. Now all three adult members of the Key home are being held in in a county jail. They pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday and are expected back in court on Tuesday. Prosecutors have revealed little about the alleged abuse and the circumstances surrounding the children's time at the home. Investigators with the Sheriff's Crimes Against Children unit launched their investigation in February and the Keys were arrested on May 12. There were no reports of abuse prior to the start of the investigation, Sheriff's spokesperson Gloria Orejel said. Anyone with information about the case can contact Det. Katie Merrill of the Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can be made with the We-Tip Hotline at (800) 78-CRIME (27463) or at
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.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- USA Today
Married couple, daughter accused of ‘severe and prolonged' torture of 6 foster children
Married couple, daughter accused of 'severe and prolonged' torture of 6 foster children Show Caption Hide Caption National Child Abuse Awareness Month The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. Learn more about the immediate and long-term effects on a child's physical and mental health. Fox - Ktvu Southern California authorities this week announced the arrest of three family members who they accuse of repeatedly torturing six foster children, one as young as age 5, for years. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, in mid-February, the agency began an investigation into the "severe and prolonged abuse and neglect" of six children, ages 5 to 16, at a home on Helena Drive in Victorville. The city is about 35 miles north of the city of San Bernardino. The investigation led to the May 12 arrest of Kenneth Key, 60, his wife, Tina Key, 60, and their daughter, Katlynn Key, 23, the sheriff's office said. According to the sheriff's department, deputies arrested all three on a torture charge. As of May 14, it is unclear if any of the relatives have legal counsel. Children have been removed from Victorville home Mara Rodriguez, a sheriff's department spokesperson, told USA TODAY that the agency would not release details about the torture but said the children "were subjected to severe trauma and physical abuse." The children were removed from the home at the start of the investigation, Rodriguez said. Officials confirmed some of the alleged torture may have occurred as far back as when the children were first placed into the family's home at least 10 years ago. USA TODAY contacted the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office on May 14 but has not received a response. 'We're deeply disturbed': Amazon driver caught pooping and peeing on customers' property Relatives held on $1 million bond each On May 14, a San Bernardino Superior Court clerk with the Victorville District told USA TODAY that the three relatives had not yet been formally charged. Officials said they are being held at the Central Detention Center on $1 million bond each. Court records do not show when their next hearing is. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Katie Merrill of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at 909-890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or leave information at Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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.'
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Six children 'rescued from house of horrors after severe and prolonged torture'
Kenneth Key, 60, his wife Tina, also 60, and their daughter Katlynn, 23, were arrested following an investigation into the alleged "severe and prolonged" torture of several children A married couple and their daughter have been arrested on suspicion of torturing six children and subjecting them to "severe and prolonged abuse". Suspects Kenneth Key, 60, Tina Key, also 60, and Katlynn Key, 23, were arrested during an investigation into allegations of abuse and torture. Police said Kenneth and Tina are married and that Katlynn is their daughter. Officers with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department launched an investigation on February 13 following a tip that was called in to their child abuse hotline. The children were found on Monday in their home in Victorville, California. The six alleged victims were kids who were aged between five and 16. Police said they suspected the children had been subjected to torture. No other details about the alleged crimes and the children's relationship to the three suspects were made public. "During the investigation, Kenneth Key, Tina Key, and Katlynn Key were identified as the suspects," the SBSD said in its news release. "At the conclusion of the investigation, all three suspects were arrested and booked at the Central Detention Center in violation of PC206 - Torture, in lieu of $1,000,000 bail (£749,276)." The Mirror has contacted the SBSD for comment. According to the Kann California Law Group, child abuse laws in the Golden State prohibits "wilfully inflicting cruel or inhuman punishment or any traumatic injury on a child". People can be charged with child abuse in California as both a misdemeanour or felony. A person convicted of child abuse in the felony form can face upward of six years in a state prison and/or a fine of up to $6,000 (£4,494). Anyone convicted of the misdemeanour faces a full year in a county jail and/or a fine of up to $6,000 (£4,494). The California-based Eisner Gorin legal group said child neglect offences in the state are classified as a parent who "wilfully and without lawful excuse" fails to provide a child with necessities. These include clothing, food, medicine and shelter. The Child Welfare League of America, said California had 382,145 total referrals for child abuse and neglect in 2002. Of those 40,083 were first-time victims. The overwhelming type of recorded maltreatment was neglect at 80.3 per cent, 6.2 per cent was stated to be physical abuse, another 6.2 per cent was registered as sexual abuse and 7.1 per cent was said to be psychological maltreatment.
