Prosecutors say the alleged abuse shocked investigators and left children with lasting injuries.
RALEIGH, NC – A Wake County couple is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors alleged they subjected six children to severe abuse, including confining a 13-year-old in a dog kennel under life-threatening conditions. The arrests of Lacy Douglas Hocutt Jr., 34, and Rachelleigh Marie Galasso, 33, follow an investigation that began with a February report and led to the removal of all six children from the home.
Court records show Hocutt is charged with nine counts of statutory rape, while Galasso faces four counts of negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. The children involved ranged in age from 1 to 15.
Investigators described conditions inside the home as hazardous and unsanitary, with one child found severely malnourished and in urgent need of medical care.
Conditions inside home detailed in court
According to statements presented in court, a 13-year-old was allegedly kept locked inside a dog kennel and found “so grossly underweight that it was life-threatening.” The child was reportedly covered in feces and suffering from an E. coli infection when discovered.
“When CPS and the sheriff’s office went out there, it was so filthy that investigators had to wear protective gear,” an assistant district attorney said in court Thursday.
Prosecutors said the home’s condition required investigators to take precautions before entering, underscoring the severity of the environment the children were living in.
Allegations of long-term abuse and neglect
Authorities also outlined the psychological and physical impact on the children. The teen allegedly confined in the kennel now displays behavioral trauma.
“He now rocks back and forth, and all he yells is, ‘You’re never getting out. You’re never getting out,’ which we can only assume is what was screamed at him while he was in there,” the prosecutor told the court.
Additional court records indicate multiple children suffered untreated medical and dental issues. Some reportedly had such severe dental decay that they required removal of adult teeth and are unable to eat solid food without pain. Another child’s scoliosis was allegedly neglected to the point that it can no longer be corrected surgically.
Prosecutors also stated that none of the children had received formal schooling and were unable to read or write.
Hocutt is further accused of sexually abusing one of the female children over several years, with allegations dating back to 2017.
Both defendants appeared in court Thursday, where they were appointed public defenders. They are being held without bond and are scheduled to return to court on April 23. If convicted, Hocutt could face a life sentence.
