Mom, Boyfriend Arrested After Children Tortured With Hot Sauce And Pepper

A woman and her boyfriend were arrested in South Carolina on the charges of allegedly torturing her children with hot sauce and spices.

Greenville Police Department arrested 25-year-old Sabrina Irene Emerick and her boyfriend Earl Kailiala Saladaga, 37, for cruelty to children earlier this month. Emerick has two sons, aged five and seven. When the boys were interviewed by child services, they recounted the abuse they suffered at the hands of Saladaga, who lives with Emerick and her kids.

The boys claimed Saladaga went to great lengths to punish them, forcing the five-year-old to take extremely hot and cold showers other than suffocating him with a pillow on several occasions. The boys also alleged that he rubbed hot pepper on one of the boys’ genitals as a punishment when they wet the couch in their sleep.

The seven-year-old said Saladaga once tortured him by putting pepper in his eyes and mouth; he also alleged that Saladaga poured hot sauce all over the five-year-old’s face, eyes and mouth. Both these instances forced the children to vomit. In another instance, as a punishment, Saladaga shot the elder boy with a BB gun and also hit and kicked him.

Meanwhile, police revealed that Emerick was aware of all these and allowed her boyfriend to abuse the children, putting them at risk.

According to the Greenville Police, the abuse has been going on since September 2017 and the couple was arrested earlier this month following investigations that began in March.

“Heinous crimes against children are some of the most difficult cases we investigate. The horrific stories of abuse endured by these children are sickening and reprehensible. As such, the children have been removed from this abusive environment,” Jason Rampsey, Greenville Police Lieutenant, said.

The boys were removed from Emerick’s custody and were living with another family member, the Greenville News reported.

Earlier in February, the children had a forensic interview with personnel from the Julie Valentine Center in Greenville, South Carolina — a nonprofit organization that helps victims and survivors of sexual assault and their families. It was during the interview that the investigators learnt of all the abuse that took place.

According to Rampsey, the investigation took a longer time due to the seriousness of the allegations and the children’s ages. He said the interview with Julie Valentine Center was crucial for the investigation.

The couple was arrested earlier this month. Saladaga was charged with unlawful neglect of a child and two counts of cruelty to children along with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Emerick was charged with unlawful neglect and cruelty to children.

Saladaga was given a $25,000 bond while Emerick's bond was set at $10,000. They were released on Feb. 15, but the case was sent to the 13th Circuit Solicitor for prosecution. Saladaga was also required to wear electronic monitoring and have no contact with either of the children.