A couple has been arrested after Pennsylvania state troopers rescued five children from a “sickening” dungeon-like room without beds, boarded up windows and feces smeared all over the walls.
James Kahl, 65, and Carly Kahl, 41, were taken into custody on Wednesday and jailed on several charges, including endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment, KDKA reported. Authorities were initially called on Aug. 8 to their home in Redstone Township — a suburb of Pittsburgh tucked in the southwest part of Pennsylvania — to help the Fayette County Children and Youth Services investigate a complaint.
“We are very, very happy that a family member was willing to come forward and report this to us,” Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele said. “We are very happy with our Children and Youth Services, who removed these children, and our Belle Vernon state police, that continued this investigation long after the children were removed to make the arrest that they did today.”
When they arrived at the residence on Willis Avenue, they found five children, ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old, in “deplorable living conditions,” according to court documents cited by the news outlet. Their father, James Kahl, allegedly locked them inside a filthy bedroom with limited food and clothing for most of the day and all night long, police said.
Troopers described three deadbolt locks on the outside of the door, which had no handle, leaving the children with no way to exit. They also discovered cameras hardwired to the father’s room in addition to a stun gun, a replica pistol, drugs and drug paraphernalia inside the home.
“It is sickening,” Trooper Ally Wilson said. “That is the only word to describe it. It’s sickening.”
Both James and Carly Kahl were order held without bond.
