In what’s been called the most gruesome child neglect cases in Hampton Roads history, jury selection started today in the joint trials of Brian and Shannon Gore, the parents from Hayes, Va. accused of keeping their 6-year-old daughter caged for months, maybe years, as the little girl starved and wallowed in her own feces while being forced to live in a crib-sized, home-made prison cage.
According to CBS News, Gloucester County Sherriff’s Deputies originally went to the Gore’s mobile home on a suspected burglary tip. What they found was a 6-year-old girl in a cage attempting to eat herself.
The Daily Press reported that each of the Gores have been charged with felony counts of aggravated malicious wounding and child abuse. If convicted, the aggravated malicious wounding charge alone is good for a minimum 20 years to life in prison.
The child was discovered living in those horrid conditions in April, 2011.
Police also discovered the remains of another child buried outside their mobile home. The couple was also charged with murder in that separate case back in July, 2011.
Due to all the pre-trial publicity surrounding the case of the young girl found caged, it may become necessary to move the trial out of Gloucester County, Va. if an impartial jury can’t be selected and seated.
The abused daughter, now 8-years-old and living with foster parents may be called to testify once the trial gets underway.
Also expected to testify are a myriad of investigators and medical experts to speak to the child’s mental and physical injuries, her long-term outlook, and what Va. Commonwealth Attorney Holly Smith asserts to be permanent injuries suffered at the hands of the abusive parents, one permanent injury being "brain atrophy."
In order to convict Brian and Shannon Gore of aggravated malicious wounding, it has to be proven that permanent and significant physical injuries have occurred …
Both Brian and Shannon Gore face the same felony child neglect and aggravated malicious wounding charges for keeping their 6-year-old daughter locked up in a crib that was fashioned into a homemade cage to keep the child imprisoned in her own home.
Also see:
Conn. firefighters charged with child slave trafficking
Connect with Rich Webster on Facebook and Twitter.
To receive e-mail alerts to Richard's Domestic Crimes articles, Subscribe Here to Get Instant Updates.
E-mail alerts are free, private and secure, and you won't get any ink on your fingers.
Comments