Seven Children Found in Faeces-Smeared Kentucky Home as Eight Face Charges Including Rape, Incest and Trafficking

Seven children were removed from a faeces-smeared home in Richmond, Kentucky, on Thursday during a child abuse investigation, authorities reported. Eight adults were arrested, with charges including rape, incest and human trafficking.

The search followed an investigation involving Richmond police, Child Protective Services and the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services, LEX 18 reported. The allegations include rape and human trafficking charges against two men, and incest charges against four of the adults.

Conditions Inside the Kentucky Home

The seven children ranged in age from a one-year-old baby to a 17-year-old. All were placed with social services after their removal from the home, authorities reported. The reports provided no further details of those placements.

Authorities described the living conditions as 'very filthy and deplorable'. Police reported that 15 people were living in the property alongside 10 dogs and one cat.

Officers entered the home while carrying out a search warrant relating to the abuse allegations. Court documents described faeces smeared across the floors and stairs and an overwhelming smell of urine. Police also reported contamination on other surfaces throughout the property.

Kentucky Suspects Face Different Charges

The reported charges vary among the eight adults, with some accused of sexual offences or trafficking in addition to abuse and neglect. The rape, incest and trafficking allegations do not apply to every defendant.

Richard Carter, 45, faces first-degree rape and human trafficking charges. His reported charges also include first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree criminal abuse or neglect of a child under 13.

The oldest of the eight adults charged, Green Schindler, 63, is accused of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and human trafficking. The charges against him also include incest, first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree criminal abuse or neglect of a child under 13.

Sarah Carter, 28, is charged with incest and distribution of obscene matter, as well as first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree criminal abuse or neglect of a child under 13.

Mark Brumbaugh, 30, faces incest and third-degree sexual abuse charges. His reported charges also include first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree criminal abuse or neglect of a child under 13. Matthew Brumbaugh, also 30, is charged with incest.

Christine Carter, 41, and Johnna Carter, 21, are each charged with criminal abuse and criminal abuse or neglect of a child under 13. The charge listed against Ishmeal Thornsberry, 21, is first-degree criminal abuse.

Kentucky Police Appeal for More Information

Richmond police described the suspects as family members but did not explain the relationships between them or identify how each adult was related to the children. Mark and Matthew Brumbaugh were described in the reporting as twin brothers.

All eight adults were booked into the Madison County Detention Center on Thursday. The investigation remained ongoing, with police indicating that the charges announced so far might not be the last.

'Additional charges may be incurred pending further investigation,' the Richmond Police Department stated.

The department also stated, 'Community members are encouraged to report any information regarding this case.'

All eight adults were taken into custody and held at the Madison County Detention Center, with police announcing their arrests on Friday, 9 October. It remains unclear whether they have secured legal representation, while the timeline of the alleged abuse has not been specified.