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A New Palestine, Ind., man is facing felony charges after being accused of beating and threatening four children
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One of the children texted their mother in October to inform her that Curtis Bordenkircher, 35, was abusing them, a probable cause affidavit alleges
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The children told authorities he threatened to suffocate them and cut them with a knife while he was drinking, the affidavit alleges
An Indiana man is facing criminal charges after allegedly beating four children with a belt, threatening to suffocate them and forcing them to stand in a corner until their legs gave out.
On Monday, Nov. 3, Curtis Bordenkircher of New Palestine was arrested and charged with four felony counts of neglect of a dependent and two felony counts of intimidation, according to online court records.
Bordenkircher was released the next day on a $600 cash bond and is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 4. He pleaded not guilty.
The judge issued four “no contact” orders to protect the children, per the online records.
It is unclear what Bordenkircher’s relationship is with the children.
The alleged crimes came to light on Oct. 17 when the local Department of Child Safety received a report about a child with “light blue bruising” on her buttocks from being whipped with a belt, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX59 and the Daily Reporter.
The ensuing investigation revealed that Bordenkircher had been abusing that child and three others, the affidavit alleges, per the outlets. One of the children had also texted their mother to inform her that Bordenkircher had been abusing them.
When authorities initially spoke to the children and asked if they were having a good time, they shook their heads — indicating that no, they weren’t, according to the affidavit. Two younger children began to cry.
All four children were then taken to a child advocacy center where they told authorities about the alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of Bordenkircher.
One of the victims allegedly told authorities that “he drinks so much a day and then he just gets mad at us,” according to the affidavit, FOX59 reported. “Beer, after beer, after beer.”
He would allegedly make them stand in the corner for long periods of time, taunting them by saying, “You all are in the corner until your legs are numb,” per the outlet.
He also allegedly told them, “I have no sympathy for you,” adding, “You stand all night,” the outlet reported.
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He was drinking beer from a can while officers were questioning him, the affidavit alleges.
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According to the affidavit, one of the children allegedly told authorities that when she and her siblings visited Bordenkircher in early October, he beat her with a belt, dragged her by the ankles and made her stand in the corner until her legs were numb, per The Daily Reporter.
Another child allegedly told authorities that Bordenkircher grabbed her by the neck and threatened to push her through a wall if she didn’t shut her mouth, according to the affidavit, which also alleges that Bordenkircher would threaten the children by saying if they didn’t “shut up,” he would “suffocate” them with a pillow and “slaughter them in their sleep.”
Bordenkircher allegedly held a knife to the child while he made these threats, per the affidavit.
It is unclear whether Bordenkircher has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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