FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Two people are facing charges after five children were found inside a room Pennsylvania State Police described as a “dungeon.”
On Wednesday, James Kahl Jr., 65, and Carly Kahl, 40, of Fairbank, were charged with felony charges of endangering the welfare of children and aggravated assault, online court records show. They also face five misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, their five children — ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old — were found living in deplorable conditions in early August at a home in Redstone Township by State Police and Fayette County Children and Youth Services, according to the criminal complaint.
State Police said when they were inside the home, they didn’t see any beds, the windows were boarded up, feces were found on the bedroom walls, and there was limited clothing and food.
The children’s bedroom door was locked from the outside, trapping the victims inside throughout the day and night, investigators explained. Three deadlocks were on the outside of the door, and no handle was on the inside, so the children could not escape, according to the Troopers.
“This room functioned as a dungeon,” State Police said in court documents. There were also video cameras allegedly hardwired to James’ room.
A removal order was needed to get the children out of the home because James allegedly told troopers and a CYS worker he wasn’t removing the locks. Once the children were rescued from the room, they were turned over to CYS.
Troopers said the children told them during interviews how James would allegedly force Carly to use a stun gun on one of the children as punishment. Also, troopers said they were told how James allegedly smoked marijuana all day long and never took care of the children.
When a search warrant was served Wednesday, the complaint shows that troopers found a “Jolt Self Defense Stun Gun,” a replica pistol, a video surveillance camera, drugs, and paraphernalia.
The couple was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Michael Defino Jr., and taken to Fayette County Prison, where their bail was both denied, court records show. James and Carly both await preliminary hearings scheduled for Sept. 17.