North Carolina couple accused of abusing pre-teen daughter

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Police have accused a North Carolina couple of inflicting what’s described as “serious mental injury” on their pre-teen daughter for more than two years.

Raleigh police told local news outlets 47-year-old Russell Jay Smith and 38-year-old Lindsey Michelle Smith surrendered to officers on Tuesday.

According to police, the Smiths abused their daughter, who was 11 when it began, by putting her through “extreme isolation” and “ostracism.” Investigators also said the couple failed to provide an adequate education for the child and forced her to remain standing for hours.

The Smiths are charged with negligent child abuse inflicting serious physical injury and misdemeanor child abuse. They’re jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail. It’s not known if they have attorneys, and they were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday. The Smith were also ordered not to have contact with their child.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Russell Smith surrendered on Monday on an arrest warrant that accused him of misdemeanor assault on May 30. It alleged he hit the girl with his palm and caused a bruise above her left eye.

An investigation began when police were called to the Smith home on May 30, Raleigh police spokeswoman Laura Hourigan said, adding that child protective services became involved in the case.

Court records showed that police and magistrates treated the assault case as domestic violence. Smith was released on $3,000 bail and given a June 27 court date. The arrest warrants for the abuse charges cite a period of April 1, 2016, through May 30, when police went to the house.