Two women in Newton, North Carolina, are facing criminal charges after being accused of causing severe injuries to two toddlers in their care.
The defense is citing paranormal activity as the cause, according to a local ABC affiliate television station WSOC.
Emily Marie Edwards, 25, and her mother, Sherrie Jean Edwards, 54, were arrested on August 16 following a grand jury indictment on two counts each of felony child abuse causing serious bodily injury, Law and Crime reports.
The charges are based on allegations dating back to December 2023. The court documents, reviewed by WSOC, said that a 1-year-old and 2-year-old suffered multiple injuries, including burns, bite marks, and broken bones. Additionally, both children tested positive for fentanyl.
When questioned by the Newton Police Department, the Edwards women reportedly said that the injuries were the result of evil spirits within their apartment in Newton, about 40 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina.
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According to Newton Police Chief Vidal Sipe, the women mentioned that they had been using an Ouija board, which is used to attempt to communicate with spirits, and suggested that the injuries were inflicted by these spirits during nightmares the children experienced.
“The basic response was nightmares,” Sipe explained to WSOC-TV. “They heard the kids yelling and went over to find injuries on them. They claimed that spirits in the house were responsible for these injuries.”
The indictment accuses the women of acting with a “reckless disregard for life” and failing to report the extensive injuries observed on the toddlers. The court documents detail the children’s injuries and suggest that the abuse was a result of actions taken by the mother and grandmother. Sipe also said there was possibly a third adult involved who passed away earlier this year, according to WSOC-TV.
Neighbors in the area have expressed skepticism about the Edwards’ account of events. One neighbor, who also spoke to the TV channel, dismissed the notion of paranormal activity, saying, “I think that’s crazy.”
Currently, both women are being held in Catawba County Jail with bonds set at $25,000 each, according to the radio station WHKY.
Emily Edwards has already appeared in court on Monday, August 19 but her next hearing has not been scheduled. Sherrie Edwards is due to appear in court on October 7.
Newsweek has reached out to the Newton Police Department for further details.
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