Middlesboro Couple Once Charged With Criminal Child Abuse Have Charges Dismissed

From WRIL The Big One -

As we previously reported back in March of 2025, Brandon Saylor and Kelly Wilburn were facing child abuse charges after investigators allegedly received evidence of criminal neglect while responding to a complaint at a local apartment complex.

At the time, Middlesboro Police Department announced that officers were dispatched to Bella Garden Apartments in Middlesboro after receiving complaints of possible child abuse there and that there was a “possible child abuse video” that was allegedly circulating on social media.

A news release stated “the same evening, Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson received additional evidence and information regarding the alleged abuse.” With assitance of social workers, both Saylor and Wilburn were arrested.

Both were initially charged with:

(4) four counts of an abused or neglected child, 1st degree criminal abuse, and (2) two counts of 1st degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under.

Brandon Saylor was additionally charged with 4th-degree assault – domestic violence with a minor injury and tampering with a witness.

In a court appearance before Judge Keith Nagle on October 2, 2026, in Bell County Circuit Court, Commonwealth Attorney Michael Taylor agreed to dismiss all charges after he "carefully reviewed all the evidence, especially that of an exculpatory nature." He moved to dismiss all charges WITHOUT prejudice."

In a criminal court case, "without prejudice" means that the charges are dismissed temporarily rather than permanently, leaving the prosecutor free to refile the charges later.