Kent County Couple Indicted for Serial Child Abuse and Torture

DOVER, Del. - A Kent County couple has been indicted on 646 charges, including more than 80 felonies, for abusing two children, the Delaware Department of Justice announced Wednesday. 

The DOJ said that over a period of 20 months, Mary Vinson, 45, and her husband Charles Vinson, 36, are alleged to have abused the two children, including making them stand for long periods of time; withholding food; force feeding them; and physically assaulting the victims. Both children, who have since been transferred into the custody of the Division of Family services, were hospitalized several times due to the severity of the abuse, which was caught on video by cameras the couple placed in the children’s room, investigators said.  

“These are the cases that keep us up at night,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The evidence in this case is disturbing and my prayers are with the victims who, thank God, are somewhere safe. We will seek swift and complete justice against the accused; nothing matters more than protecting our kids.’  

The charges against both suspects are as follows: 

Charles Vinson: 

• 6 counts of Child Abuse 1^st Degree, a Class B Felony 
• 12 counts of Conspiracy 2^nd Degree, a Class G Felony 
• 9 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony 
• 2 counts of Reckless Endangering 2^nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• 2 counts of Conspiracy 3^rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• 2 counts of Kidnapping 1^st Degree, a Class B Felony
• 2 counts of Act of Intimidation, a Class D Felony 
• 3 counts of Menacing, an Unclassified Misdemeanor
• 3 counts of Child Abuse 3^rd Degree, a Class A Misdmeanor
• 3 counts of Endangering the Welfare, a Class A Misdemeanor 
• 2 counts of False Statement, a Class G Felony

Mary Vinson: 

• 7 counts of Child Abuse 1^st Degree, a Class B Felony 
• 12 counts of Conspiracy 2^nd Degree, a Class G Felony
• 2 counts of Conspiracy 3^rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• 4 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
• 6 counts of Menacing, an Unclassified Misdemeanor
• 71 counts of Reckless Endangering 2^nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• 2 counts of Kidnapping 1^st Degree, a Class B Felony
• 225 counts of Child Abuse 3^rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• 3 counts of Reckless Endangering 1^st Degree, a Class E Felony
• 11 counts of Attempted Child Abuse 1^st Degree, a Class B Felony
• 7 counts of Strangulation, a Class E Felony
• 1 count of Attempted Strangulation, a Class E Felony
• 244 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor
• 2 counts of Act of Intimidation, a Class D Felony
• 3 counts of False Statement, a Class G Felony 

If convicted on all charges, Mary Vinson faces a minimum sentence of 40 years and a maximum sentence of more than 1,150 years; Charles Vinson would face a minimum sentence of 16 years and a maximum sentence of more than 270 years.