Girls adopted by John Henry Thomas and Carol Ann Thomas

John Henry Thomas  was accused of raping one of the older girls and physically abusing the others beginning in 2003. His wife, Carol Ann, was charged with failing to protect the children from her husband.

Court documents state that one of the six children reported she was punched in the stomach until she vomited. Others said they were beaten with a tree limb, a cast-iron frying pan and a table leg, documents state. In other instances, one child said she was forced to stand barefoot on a hot radiator, and another child was forced to drink the Thomases' urine, according to police, who said John Thomas also sexually abused a teenage daughter. The children also said they were forced to go without food and sit and watch others eat for days and forced to hit other children in the household, according to police. Some of the children had scars from the incidents, police said.

John Henry Thomas pleaded no contest to sexual assault and unlawful contact with minors - his adopted children. Carol Thomas pleaded no contest to charges she failed to protect the children from her husband.