Evans Couple Charged With Felonies in Jackson County Child Abuse Case
Erica and Clifford Sayre face multiple counts of neglect and abuse after authorities found three children in squalid conditions.
By Giulia Donovan ·
Erica Lynn Sayre, 45, and Clifford Gale Sayre, 46, were charged with felonies on Monday for the alleged mistreatment of three children in Evans, West Virginia.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Department announced the arrests following a detailed investigation. Each spouse faces six felony charges. Erica Sayre is accused of three counts of child neglect creating risk of injury and three counts of child abuse resulting in bodily injury. Clifford Sayre faces three counts of child neglect creating risk of injury and three counts of child neglect resulting in bodily injury.
Investigators said the children suffered repeated physical harm and deprivation over several years. The allegations include being struck, strangled, and denied access to food, water, and the bathroom. Officers reported that soiled cat litter was placed in the children's beds and dog feces was put on their personal items. The children were also forced to run barefoot on a gravel driveway as a form of punishment.
The sheriff's office stated that one child was hit in the head with an electronic device, causing a bleeding injury that went untreated. Another child said she was threatened with death if she contacted Child Protective Services. During forensic interviews, the children described Clifford Sayre holding one girl's hands while Erica Sayre cut her hair with a razor blade, causing an injury.
Physical evidence supported the children's accounts. Investigators documented scars consistent with the reported injuries. The children's statements corroborated one another and matched the physical evidence collected during the probe. All three children were removed from the home once the allegations were confirmed.
Sheriff Ross Mellinger said the findings were deeply troubling. He noted that the children described their living situation as a real-life house of horrors. The investigation involved multiple interviews, medical exams, and photographic documentation.
The children told investigators they just want a normal life. One child said, I can't go back to that home. Another said, Because mom hits us and Gale lets her. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department could not immediately be reached for further comment.
