A deeply troubling case of prolonged child abuse has led to the arrest of a Carlisle woman, Rachelle Lynn McCarter Kitchell, on multiple felony charges. Officers with the Indiana State Police took Kitchell into custody on July 23, 2024, following an active felony arrest warrant issued by the Sullivan Circuit Court. Kitchell is currently being held at the Sullivan County Jail with a bond set at $225,000, with 10% allowed.
According to court filings, the charges against Kitchell stem from a harrowing investigation into allegations of abuse that spanned nearly two years, from July 2022 to May 2024, and involved multiple children. The abuse came to light after the children’s grandmother contacted the Indiana State Police on May 28, 2024, raising serious concerns about their well-being.
Among the most disturbing allegations detailed in a probable cause affidavit are:
– The intentional removal of a child’s toenail using pliers, followed by burning the injured area with a torch lighter,
– The use of a hair iron to intentionally burn a child’s hand, heel, and leg,
– The application of remote-controlled shock collars to shock the children, and
– An incident where a child was blindfolded and had the bottom of their foot placed on a hot burner, resulting in a severe burn through multiple layers of skin.
Investigators described a pattern of cruel and calculated abuse that inflicted significant physical and emotional trauma on the young victims. During a search of Kitchell’s Gill Street home in Carlisle, police located a hair iron matching the description provided by a victim and two shock collars with a remote, corroborating the children’s accounts. The grandmother also provided police with photographs of the children’s injuries.
As of the latest updates, Kitchell faces nine felony charges, including:
– Three counts of Domestic Battery with Serious Bodily Injury to a Person Under 14 (Level 3 Felony),
– Three counts of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Level 3 Felony), and
– Three counts of Domestic Battery with Bodily Injury to a Person Under 14 (Level 5 Felony).
A felony warrant for her arrest was issued on July 17, 2024, by the Sullivan Circuit Court. Kitchell remains in custody and is scheduled for a jury trial on February 25, 2025, after a motion of continuance was granted to allow lawyers additional time to prepare their cases.
Additionally, Jeremy Edward Kitchell, 38, the husband of Rachelle Kitchell, faces three counts of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Bodily Injury, a Level 5 Felony. Jeremy admitted to police that he had seen the injuries on the children but failed to seek medical care for them. He was arrested on July 23, 2024, and has since bonded out of jail on a $45,000 bond with 10% allowed. His jury trial is scheduled for April 8, 2025.
The Indiana State Police and Sullivan County authorities emphasized their ongoing commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of the community. In a public statement, officials affirmed that they “remain dedicated to ensuring justice is pursued in all cases of abuse and neglect.”
The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not released further details regarding the number of children involved or their current condition, citing their privacy and safety.
Anyone with additional information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police or the Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance in reporting signs of abuse and the critical role that community members play in safeguarding children from harm.
**End of Statement**
**Issued by the Indiana State Police**
