Charges filed against TH foster parents

Formal charges were filed against a Terre Haute couple accused of child abuse, and new information revealed about their five children.

Police arrested Larry and Nikki Russell on allegations the couple bound, beat and poured urine over at least three adopted children in their care.

Wednesday, prosecutors charged Larry Russell with six felony counts of neglect and five felony counts of criminal confinement.

They’ve also charged his wife, Nikki Russell with the same 11 felonies, plus two misdemeanor counts of battery by bodily waste and one count of battery resulting in bodily injury.

New information released shows one of the five children was a biological child, one was adopted back in 2008 and the Russell’s adopted the other three in April of this year.    

The current charges reflect what the prosecutor’s office says they have proof of; those are abuse incidents between August of this year and now. A large scale investigation is still ahead.

“I think the most important thing was to get this dealt with quickly to start and we’re really digging into the investigation now, but we wanted to make sure the children were safe,” Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said.

Larry Russell also faces a charge in another division back in Vigo County on a domestic battery arrest stemming from an incident back in May involving Mrs. Russell.

That charge is elevated to a felony because it happened in the presence of children.