Middlesboro Police Charge Parents With Criminal Abuse Against 5-Year-Old Son

From The Middlesboro Police Department -

On Sunday, March 30th, in a joint investigation between Officer Caleb Ayers and Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, two people were arrested for abusing their child.

According to the press release, the sergeant's investigation determined that 27-year-old Ricky and 24-year-old Nichole North of Middlesboro "intentionally abused Ricky's 5-year-old child by duct-taping his arm and legs, punishing him with cold showers, punching and slapping him in the head and face, choking and body slamming him." The abuse also included "whipping the child for coloring outside the lines on homework/schoolwork, and holding the child by his ankles and slamming his head numerous times on the ground/floor.

The Middlesboro Police state that the child was subjected to this torture, cruel confinement, and cruel punishment on numerous occasions while in Ricky and Nichole's care.

Both parents have been arrested and are lodged in the Bell County Detention Center charged with criminal abuse - 1st degree - child 12 or under, tampering with physical evidence, strangulation - 1st degree, and failure to report child dependent neglect/abuse - 1st degree.

Both Ricky and Nichole have other children, but they either have been or are now in the safe care of other family members or foster parents.

No bond has been set at this time for either individual.