Indiana – An Indiana man was arrested and charged after authorities said he abused four chiIdren in his care. Court records in Indiana and surrounding county indicate he is charged with four counts of negIect of a dependent with crueI confinement or abandonment and two counts of lntimidation with a threat to commit a forcibIe feIony.
The investigation began after the Indiana Department of Child Services received a referral last month from a child who had bruising and said they were being mistreated. Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence and then followed up after the report.
When officers arrived, they spoke to the children, who were not identified due to their age. According to affidavits, one child told investigators that the man, later identified as 35‑year‑old C. Bordenkarcher, beat her with a beIt, dragged her by the ankIes, and forced her to stand in a corner until her Iegs went numb. Other children described being grabbed by the neck, shoved against a waII, threatened with a Iarge bIade and told by the man that if they did not “shut up,” he would “suffocate” them or “sIaughter them in their sIeep.” One child said the man ordered: “You all are in the corner until your legs are numb.” Another said he routinely consumed beer and then “just gets mad at us.”
During questioning, the 35-year-old man admitted that he spanked one of the children three times and at the scene he drank from a tall beer can while deputies were present. He initially told officers everything was fine and bIamed the mother of the children, claiming she manipuIated them. After the man failed to appear for a follow‑up interview, a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was taken into custody last week. He later posted a $600 cash bond and was released, with no‑contact orders in effect for the children.
Investigators said the children were taken to a child advocacy center where trained staff interviewed them and collected statements. According to the affidavit, one child had “light blue bruising” on her butocks believed to be from being whipped with a belt. The criminal complaint states the man neglected the children by cruel confinement or abandonment when he forced them into prolonged standing punishment and threatened serious harm if they did not comply. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 4, according to court records
