KENNEWICK, Wash.-A grandmother accused of beating and burning her grandkids with the help of her husband and the children’s uncle is scheduled to be arraigned in Benton County Superior Court on Nov. 29.
Kennewick Police became aware of the alleged abuse on Nov. 1, when they responded to a missing person report.
According to probable cause documents from Benton County Superior Court, a KPD Officer responded to a residence on 20th Ave. in Kennewick and was told by the 51-year-old grandmother that her 12-year-old granddaughter was missing.
Later in the day the KPD Officer was contacted by a SARC employee about concerns about the safety of children in the home.
The missing 12-year-old took the bus to Richland and ultimately went to her aunt’s house and reported that she “didn’t feel safe” at home, according to court documents.
A child forensic interviewer spoke with the girl who allegedly detailed a pattern of ongoing physical abuse toward her and her two brothers, ages 11 and 14.
The children lived at the home with their grandparents and an uncle. According to the probable cause documents, the grandmother allegedly shaved the head and eyebrows of the 12-year-old as punishment.
The three children were also allegedly made to eat kimchi with Carolina Reaper peppers or dog food in it. The 12-year-old reportedly threw up after eating the kimchi, but was forced to eat the kimchi and the vomit in the morning.
The children were also allegedly kicked and burned for “not making enough money at the flea market.”
According to the probable cause documents, the children were forced to eat Carolina Reaper peppers and were burned with a hot knife after returning home from the Flea Market. The 12-year-old reportedly has a large burn mark in the shape of a knife on her back.
In another instance the children’s grandfather allegedly held the 12-year-old down while the grandmother hit her with a pickleball paddle.
The 12-year-old also reported to the forensic investigator that the children sometimes went without food and were forced to eat cat and dog food and crickets.
According to court documents the grandmother and grandfather are being held on $100,000 bail each. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
