Authorities said three children described repeated mistreatment, and investigators documented physical evidence they said supported parts of the accounts.
EVANS, W.Va. — A West Virginia couple has been charged with multiple felonies after three children told investigators they endured years of alleged physical and emotional abuse inside a Jackson County home, authorities said.
Erica Lynn Sayre, 45, and her husband, Clifford Gale Sayre, 46, both of Evans, were arrested following an investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Erica Sayre faces three counts of child abuse resulting in bodily injury and three counts of child neglect creating risk of injury. Clifford Sayre faces three counts of child neglect resulting in bodily injury and three counts of child neglect creating risk of injury, according to local law enforcement reports. Both have posted bond.
Sheriff Ross Mellinger said investigators examined allegations of prolonged mistreatment involving the three children. Authorities said the children described being struck, strangled, deprived of food and water and denied access to a bathroom. They also reported punishments that included being forced to run barefoot on a gravel driveway and having unsanitary material placed on their beds or belongings.
Investigators said some of the allegations involved injuries that were not treated. One child reported being struck in the head with an electronic device and suffering a bleeding injury without receiving medical care. Another child told authorities that a threat was made against the child if Child Protective Services was contacted. The allegations have not been proven in court.
The children also described other forms of alleged physical punishment, including being struck with household objects and having their hair forcibly cut, authorities said. Investigators reported that the children were also harassed about their deceased biological parents. The sheriff’s department characterized the overall allegations as involving years of physical and emotional abuse.
Authorities alleged that Clifford Sayre witnessed repeated mistreatment and did not intervene. One child also told investigators that he restrained the child’s hands during an incident in which Erica Sayre forcibly cut the child’s hair, resulting in an injury. The sheriff’s department cited that allegation as part of its case against him.
Deputies said the children were interviewed with involvement from Child Protective Services and a child advocacy center. Investigators documented scars they said were consistent with portions of the children’s accounts. Mellinger also said the children’s statements corroborated one another, contributing to the decision to seek felony charges against both adults.
The three children were removed from the home after authorities became involved. Their names, ages and current placements have not been publicly released in the reports reviewed. Details about when the alleged abuse began and how authorities first learned of the situation also were not fully disclosed.
The case now moves through the court system, where the allegations will be tested through the legal process. Erica Sayre has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 20, according to local reports. Publicly available reports reviewed Wednesday did not establish the outcome of any preliminary proceeding for Clifford Sayre. Neither defendant has been convicted of the charges.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 28, 2026.