Ohio couple who tortured boy, 11, and girl, 10, for months and threatened them with 'horrible death' arrested

ZANESVILLE, OHIO: A couple has landed in jail after it was found they allegedly tortured, starved and restrained two minor children for several months. Priscilla Meachem, 31, and Elijah Walt, 38, were arrested on October 21 for allegedly abusing a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy since April of this year.

The Times Recorder reported that the pair used zip ties, electrical cords and duct tape to restrain the kids in their home on Adair Avenue. They also did not provide them food while they themselves ate in front of them. Police also said the suspected child abusers shaved the children’s heads and threatened them that they would die a horrible death. The girl was allegedly gagged with socks while the boy endured assault at the hands of Meachem and Walt, who used a cane, a wood 2-by-4, and a guitar. Zanesville Police Detective Bryan Ruff said, “This is the worst abuse case I've seen.” The woman and the man also allegedly tortured the boy’s genitals.

Both the accused are now facing nine counts of felony assault charges along with second-degree felonies, six counts of kidnapping, first-degree felonies, and seven counts of child endangering, second-degree felonies. They have been held in the Muskingum County jail and their bond has been set up at $500,000. During an arraignment, the pair pled not guilty to all charges. However, if found guilty of all the charges, Meachem and Walt will face 194 years behind the bars. Meanwhile, the victims have been taken away from the house, but it’s not provided where they are living now.

In another alleged child abuse case in Mills, Wyoming, a father and a stepmother beat their young son so terribly that part of his skull had to be amputated. Ryan Hilyard and Sarah Hilyard were arrested and charged with attempted murder and related offenses. Court documents said the stepmother took the unidentified victim to the hospital in August as his condition was critical. At the time, witnessing his condition, doctors had to intubate him.

Brain scans performed on the child revealed that he had suffered brain swelling as well as bleeding, resulting in a brain shift. The victim also suffered a retinal hemorrhage, respiratory failure, and a traumatic brain injury. When the woman was probed by investigators, she reportedly told them the kid fell down a flight of stairs. Her husband, Ryan, also backed up her story. But when their home was searched, the cruel truth came to light. Authorities found that vomit had been cleaned up recently by someone in the victim’s room. They also saw soiled clothing. “The kitchen had locks on the cupboards with food. The fridge/freezer combo had locks on the fridge and freezer,” a detective stated in the documents. Other kids in the house were questioned that revealed the alleged child abuse. The pair, who is behind bars, has now been charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and child abuse. The children were removed from the home and are under the care of social services.