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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.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Foster children were tortured for up to 10 years inside Victorville home, authorities say
Six children were allegedly tortured by their foster parents and another adult at a Victorville home, with some of the abuse going back at least a decade, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Authorities arrested Kenneth and Tina Key, both 60 years old, and their daughter Katlynn Key, 23, on Monday in connection to the alleged abuse. The foster children at the home ranged in age from 5 to 16, department officials said in a news release. Investigators with the Sheriff's Department's Crimes Against Children unit launched their investigation on Feb. 13, looking into reports of severe and prolonged abuse at a home in Victorville. The children were taken out of the home shortly after the investigation began, sheriff's spokesperson Gloria Orejel said. All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of torture and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail. They are due to appear in court on Wednesday and have not been formally charged by the San Bernardino County district attorney's office, but authorities expect charges to be filed before the end of the day. There were no additional details about the alleged torture, Orejel said, and there were no reports of abuse prior to the start of the investigation. Some of the alleged abuse may have been going on since the children were first placed into the Keys' home, going back at least 10 years, according to Orejel. Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective 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 Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Foster children were tortured for up to 10 years inside Victorville home, authorities say
Six children were allegedly tortured by their foster parents and another adult at a Victorville home, with some of the abuse going back at least a decade, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Authorities arrested Kenneth and Tina Key, both 60 years old, and their daughter Katlynn Key, 23, on Monday in connection to the alleged abuse. The foster children at the home ranged in age from 5 to 16, department officials said in a news release. Investigators with the Sheriff's Department's Crimes Against Children unit launched their investigation on Feb. 13, looking into reports of severe and prolonged abuse at a home in Victorville. The children were taken out of the home shortly after the investigation began, sheriff's spokesperson Gloria Orejel said. All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of torture and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail. They are due to appear in court on Wednesday and have not been formally charged by the San Bernardino County district attorney's office, but authorities expect charges to be filed before the end of the day. There were no additional details about the alleged torture, Orejel said, and there were no reports of abuse prior to the start of the investigation. Some of the alleged abuse may have been going on since the children were first placed into the Keys' home, going back at least 10 years, according to Orejel. Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective 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
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 accused of torturing 6 children in San Bernardino County
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. - Three suspects accused of neglecting and abusing six children in Victorville have been arrested, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. What we know On February 13, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department conducted an investigation into severe abuse and neglect of six children in Victorville, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Investigators from the Crimes Against Children Detail and the Victorville Sheriff's Station identified Kenneth Key, 60; Tina Key, 60; and Katlynn Key, 23; as suspects in the case of prolonged abuse and neglect involving six children aged five to 16. The suspects were arrested and booked at the Central Detention Center. SUGGESTED: Toddler left alone in front of SoCal police station The suspects face charges of torture, with bail set at $1 million. What we don't know Details regarding the specific nature of the abuse and neglect, as well as the current condition of the children involved, have not been disclosed. The relationship between the suspects and children is unclear. What's next The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking additional information from the public. SUGGESTED: Investigators believe 3 kids ingested fentanyl-laced pills at California daycare The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department encourages anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Katie Merrill at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can be submitted via the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or through the We-Tip website at The Source Information for this story is from a press release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department published on May 13, 2025.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Churchgoer attacked by transient with stick in Southern California: SBSD
Several churchgoers said they were threatened by a transient with a stick in San Bernardino County over the weekend, including one man who was nearly struck, law enforcement said Monday. Deputies were called to the 13800 block of Hazel Drive in Lytle Creek just before 10 a.m. Sunday, after callers reported a man holding a large stick was screaming at people, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department stated in a news release. Deputies arrived and detained the suspect, who was holding a tree branch, about a mile away in the 200 block of Lytle Creek Road. The Sheriff's Department identified the suspect as Dana Wilson, a 57-year-old transient who frequents San Bernardino County. Investigators said the incident took place at a nearby church. 'He confronted parishioners, threatened them while holding the stick, and swung the stick, nearly striking the victim,' the Sheriff's Department stated. Wilson was arrested and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon. Anyone with information regarding the incident was urged to call the Fontana Sheriff's Station at 909-356-6767. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip Hotline at 800-782-7463 or go to the We-Tip website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
