KENT CO., DE - The Delaware Department of Justice says a Kent County couple has been convicted on multiple felony charges including child abuse, kidnapping, and strangulation following an extensive period of serial abuse and torture of their children.
The DOJ says Mary Vinson, 46, and Charles Vinson, 37, abused their children for a 20-month period, including force feeding them, withholding food, and violently assaulting them. Both children are now in the custody of the Division of Family services but had been hospitalized multiple times as a result of their abuse, according to the DOJ. The abuse was reportedly caught on video by cameras the Vinsons put in their children’s room.
One of the children was 10 during the abuse, while the second was abused from age 11 to 13, the office of the Attorney General said in a statement Wednesday.
According to the DOJ, the Vinsons pleaded guilty to the string of felonies on September 26th. They were convicted on the following:
Mary Vinson:
-Six counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
-Seven counts of Attempted Child Abuse 1stDegree, a Class B Violent Felony
-Two counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
-Three counts of Attempted Assault 2ndDegree, a Class D Violent Felony
-Four counts of Strangulation, a Class E Violent Felony
-Three counts of Reckless Endangering 1stDegree, a Class E Violent Felony
-Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
-Two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
-One count of False Statement to Police, a Class G Felony
Charles Vinson:
-Three counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
-Two counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
-One count of Assault 2nd Degree, a Class D Violent Felony
-Two counts of Act of Intimidation, a Class D Felony
-Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
-Two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
-One count of Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
“These are the cases that keep us up at night,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The pain that these children endured — and that it was inflicted by people who should have been their protectors — is unthinkable. Thanks to the efforts of our prosecutors and of our partners in law enforcement, these abusers will be in prison for years to come. Their victims are safe now — but I also know that they have a long road of healing ahead of them. They are in all of our hearts today.”
Mary Vinson faces a minimum sentence of 30 years, up to 444 years in prison. Charles Vinson faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to 158 years in prison. There sentencing is set for January.