Ohio couple allegedly tortured 5 adopted sons, treated them 'worse than prisoners of war'

BATAVIA, Ohio (TCN) -- A grand jury has returned an indictment on a husband and wife and charged them with multiple counts of child endangerment for allegedly abusing their five adopted sons, all of whom have special needs.

On Tuesday, June 25, the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office released a statement announcing Charles Edmonson and his wife, Matthew Edmonson, were both indicted on five counts of endangering children.

The investigation reportedly began Aug. 1, 2022, when Clermont County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a call about a sexual assault involving a juvenile that allegedly occurred on July 31, 2022. Investigators spoke with the victim and witnesses and obtained warrants to collect cellphone information from the Edmonsons. The warrant also allowed for video surveillance of the home.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives "grew concerned" for five juveniles who lived in the home because Charles and Matthew Edmonson allegedly refused to cooperate and would not share electronics with the investigators.

Charles Edmonson was charged with sexual battery in October 2023 and was convicted of two counts of gross sexual imposition in March. He is currently serving three years in the Ohio Department of Corrections. Court records show Matthew Edmonson is in custody at the Clermont County Jail with bond set at $500,000.

Officials eventually unlocked data from Charles Edmonson’s phone, and the five children were removed from the home in February. Evidence from the phone allegedly included "numerous videos showing abuse and neglect of other juveniles."

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement the five boys dealt with "many medical issues" since they were born, but "instead of being properly nurtured and cared for, they were traumatized, neglected, and abused."

The charges Charles Edmonson is in prison for reportedly relate to a sexual relationship with one of his adopted sons.

Prosecutor Mark Teulve alleges Charles Edmonson and Matthew Edmonson were seen on video "treating these beloved special needs children worse than prisoners of war in their own home" on a regular basis.

He added, "The videos of these undernourished and naked children huddled up in a locked room in the basement, on the stone-cold basement floor like a pile of puppies trying to stay together to keep warm, are nothing short of gut-wrenching."

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