Kayla Smith and Brian Smith, both 32 years old, allegedly subjected their children to more than two years of severe abuse that included locking the minors in dog cages for extended periods without food and burning them with lit cigarettes, according to authorities in Fayette County, Kentucky.
Background
The case came to light on January 30 when child service workers received a report of abuse. Two children were subsequently placed into foster care, where they disclosed that their parents had confined them in dog cages or locked them in rooms for hours or days at a time as punishment. The children stated the confinement was used as a form of discipline over approximately two and a half years.
According to court documents obtained by WKYT, one child told investigators he would fall asleep inside the dog cage 'to pass the time.' He described being permitted to leave the cage only to use the bathroom before being immediately returned to confinement. The children also reported that the defendants burned them with lit cigarettes on multiple occasions.
A Lexington Metro Police Department investigator interviewed the victims and observed scarring consistent with burn injuries on their bodies, according to law enforcement officials.
The Investigation
Kayla Smith was arrested on February 3, and Brian Smith was arrested the following day. Both were booked into the Fayette County Detention Center. Jail records show each defendant is being held on $75,000 bond.
Both defendants have been charged with six counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under. Court records indicate that both Kayla and Brian Smith signed guilty plea offers related to the indictments against them as of May 27.
The Fayette County Commonwealth Attorney's Office has not commented on the specific terms of any proposed plea agreements. A status hearing in the case is scheduled for August 28.
Key Takeaways
- Kayla Smith and Brian Smith, both 32, are charged with six counts each of first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under
- Alleged abuse spanned approximately two and a half years and included confinement in dog cages without food for extended periods
- Children reported being burned with lit cigarettes on multiple occasions; an investigator observed apparent burn scars during interviews
- Both defendants signed guilty plea offers as of May 27, though no formal change of plea hearing has been scheduled
- A status hearing is set for August 28 in Fayette County Circuit Court
What's Next
The case remains pending as both defendants await further court proceedings. The next scheduled court date is the August 28 status hearing. No trial date has been set, and the terms of any potential plea agreement have not been publicly disclosed. The children involved remain in foster care while the legal proceedings continue.