Ky. couple allegedly tortured, abused boy for 'coloring outside of the lines on homework'
04/01/2025 2:50 pm PDT
MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (TCN) -- A man and his wife face several charges for allegedly abusing and subjecting the man’s 5-year-old son to "cruel confinement and cruel punishment" because he did his homework incorrectly.
According to the Middlesboro Police Department, officers arrested Ricky North and Nichole North on March 30 for first-degree criminal abuse, tampering with evidence, first-degree strangulation, and failure to report child neglect/abuse.
Investigators allege the couple "intentionally abused" the victim by binding him with duct tape, forcing him to take cold showers, slapping and punching him in the head and face, choking and body slamming him, and whipping him as punishment for "coloring outside of the lines on homework/schoolwork."
Middlesboro Police also say the couple allegedly held the boy by his ankles and slammed his head on the ground several times.
Bell County Jail records show they are both being held on $100,000 bond.
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