Redstone Township parents accused of keeping children in ‘dungeon’
Couple allegedly locked five children in room with no beds, limited food
A Redstone Township couple was arrested Wednesday after allegedly keeping their five children in a room that police said “functioned as a dungeon.”
The children of James Kahl, 65, and Carly Kahl, 41, were forced to spend part of the day and all of the night in the bedroom, which their father had secured from the outside by three deadbolt locks, according to the Kahls’ criminal complaints. There was no handle on the inside.
Video cameras installed inside to monitor the children, who are ages 5 to 14, were hardwired to James Kahl’s room, police said.
“(James Kahl) stated in front of me and a CYS case worker that he would not be removing the locks from the door for any reason,” Trooper Justin Yeckley wrote in the affidavit of probable cause.
State police and Fayette County Child and Youth Services had originally responded to the Kahls’ Willis Avenue home on Aug. 8 after receiving a report of “deplorable living conditions,” according to a state police report.
In the criminal complaint, troopers noted the children were kept in a harrowing environment: no beds, boarded-up windows, feces covering the bedroom walls, fleas, and limited clothing and food.
During forensic interviews conducted with the children over the next few weeks, troopers heard James Kahl had directed his wife to use a stun gun on one of the children as punishment. The children also told police James Kahl would not care for them, instead smoking marijuana throughout the day.
The children were removed from the home by a court order on Aug. 8. They remain in placement with Fayette County CYS.
On Wednesday, troopers served a warrant at the Willis Avenue home and found a stun gun, a replica pistol, a video surveillance camera, drugs and drug paraphernalia, the criminal complaints said.
Both parents are charged with felony counts of endangering the welfare of children, conspiracy to endanger the welfare of children and aggravated assault, along with misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, use of an incapacitation device, possession of a small amount of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Kahls were denied bail by District Judge Mike Defino Jr., with the reason stated as “threat to self or others.”