DOVER, DE – A Delaware court has sentenced a 46-year-old woman, Mary Vinson, to 106 years in prison for the severe abuse and torture of her two stepchildren. The sentencing, delivered by Kent County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey J. Clark, marks a conclusion to a case described as displaying “the most extensive and persistent evil” encountered by the judge.
Mary Vinson, alongside her husband, 37-year-old Charles Vinson, faced numerous felony charges for their cruel treatment of the children. The abuse, as detailed in court, involved long periods of standing, food deprivation, force-feeding, and repeated violent assaults. Mary Vinson was convicted on 42 felony counts, including child abuse, kidnapping, strangulation, and conspiracy, with a potential sentence ranging from 30 to 444 years.
Charles Vinson also received a substantial sentence of 49 years after pleading guilty to 12 felonies, encompassing child abuse, kidnapping, intimidation, and assault. His potential sentence ranged from 10 to 158 years.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, reflecting on the case, highlighted the horrific experiences endured by the children and commended the efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement in ensuring their safety. The children, who suffered over 20 months of torture starting in early 2020, are now free from their abusers, offering a semblance of closure to a chilling case.