NORTH CAROLINA — Two people have been arrested following an investigation into alleged child abuse and neglect at a home in Wake County, according to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said 34-year-old Lacy Douglas Hocutt Jr. and 33-year-old Rachelleigh Marie Galasso were taken into custody Wednesday after an investigation that began with a report in southern Wake County in February.
Prosecutors said six children, ranging in age from 1 to 15, were removed from the home in mid-February. Officials told the court that each of the children had health issues and had not received schooling, leaving them unable to read or write.
According to court documents, a 13-year-old child was kept in a dog kennel and was described as “so grossly underweight that it was life-threatening.”
Authorities said one child’s scoliosis was left untreated to the point that she will suffer from the condition for the rest of her life.
Hocutt and Galasso appeared in court Thursday, where both were assigned public defenders. Prosecutors said Hocutt could face a potential life sentence if convicted.
Both suspects are being held without bond and are scheduled to return to court on April 23.
The investigation remains ongoing.
