Couple Charged With 70 Counts Of Child Abuse

Couple Charged With 70 Counts Of Child Abuse

TheLouisvilleChannel.com

updated 1:07 p.m. ET June 8, 2008

LaRUE COUNTY, Ky. - Two LaRue County parents are in police custody, accused of torturing and abusing their four children for more than a year. Watch The Story

Child Protective Services caught wind of this case after doctors at Kosair Children's Hospital noticed unusual injuries to a 3-year-old girl.

Last year, Juan and Myra Rodriguez adopted three young children to join the daughter they already had.

"Myra said they had a big house and lot of room and they wanted lots of children," said neighbor Donna Coffey.

Coffey and her husband, Tom, were caught off guard last week when CPS removed all four children from the house.

"It was a shock to the neighborhood, as far as I know," said Tom Coffey.

Four days later, LaRue County sheriff's deputies arrested the Rodriguezes, charging them with more than 70 counts of child abuse-related crimes between the two of them.

"We want the truth to come out," said Tom Coffey. "Whatever's best for the children, and for Juan and Myra."

LaRue County Deputy Matt Darst said the truth is that Myra and Juan Rodriguez abused their children -- a 3-year-old, two 7-year-olds and a 10-year-old for the better part of a year.

"According to the statements from the children, they had all suffered from some type of abuse, and this was occurring sometime between February '07 until they were removed from the home, a couple weeks ago," he said.

Darst said the Rodriguezes broke their 3-year-old daughter's arm and leg, and two of the children accused them of pushing them down the stairs as punishment.

Darst said doctors also found adult bite marks on the 10-year-old daughter.

"The other children disclosed some information about some torture-type stuff as far as making them spread their legs all the way, touching them out to the bases of the wall on each side," Darst said.

Those who know Juan and Myra Rodriguez said these allegations are uncharacteristic of a couple who took in children in need.

"We never saw any sign of that at all," said Donna Coffey.