Kentucky police arrest 8 in child abuse, trafficking and rape case

Eight people living in the Kentucky home were arrested in a sweeping child abuse and sexual abuse case involving seven victims, ages 1 to 17, officials said Wednesday.

The suspects face a slew of charges, including abuse, incest, human trafficking and rape. Bail has been set between $50,000 and $125,000, Richmond police spokesperson Makenzie Gould said in a statement to NBC News.

All eight defendants are scheduled to appear before a Madison County judge on Oct. 21.

The arrests followed a joint investigation by Richmond police, Child Protective Services and the Department for Community Based Services, according to a police statement.

“I’m unsure of the exact family relations between all eight members,” Gould said. “All are listed as living at the same residence. All seven children were removed from this same residence.”

The defendants, along with their ages, charges and bond amounts:

• Christine Carter, 41: first-degree criminal abuse/neglect of a child under 13 and first-degree criminal abuse; held on $50,000 bond.
• Johnna Carter, 21: first-degree criminal abuse/neglect of a child under 13 and first-degree criminal abuse; held on $50,000 bond.
• Richard Carter, 45: first-degree criminal abuse/neglect of a child under 13, first-degree criminal abuse, first-degree rape and human trafficking; held on $100,000 bond.
• Sarah Carter, 28: first-degree criminal abuse/neglect of a child under 13, first-degree criminal abuse, distribution of obscene matter and incest; held on $100,000 bond.
• Matthew Brumbaugh, 30: incest; held on $50,000 bond.

• Mark Brumbaugh, 30: incest, first-degree criminal abuse/neglect of a child under 13, first-degree criminal abuse and third-degree sexual abuse; held on $100,000 bond.
• Green Schindler, 63: first-degree criminal abuse/neglect of a child under 13, first-degree criminal abuse, incest, human trafficking, first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy; held on $125,000 bond.
• Ishmeal Thornsberry, 21, first-degree criminal abuse; held on $50,000 bond.

It wasn’t immediately clear on Wednesday if the defendants had hired or been assigned criminal defense lawyers to speak on their behalf.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. The hotline, run by the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), can put you in contact with your local rape crisis center. You can also access RAINN’s online chat service at rainn.org/get-help.