DA: Fairfield kids waterboarded, shot with crossbows

ByAmy Hollyfield and Leslie Brinkley KGO logo
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Fairfield mom accused of child abuse taken into custody
A Fairfield mom accused of raising her 10 kids in squalor has been taken into custody, with bail being set at $495,000.

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (KGO) -- Prosecutors say the 10 children who were found living in a squalid Northern California home were waterboarded, shot with crossbows, BBs, kicked, punched and had scalding water poured on them.

The children's mother, 30-year-old Ina Rogers, appeared in court Wednesday. She was taken into custody with bail set at $495,000.

Solano County prosecutors included the horrific details in a motion to increase the bail for Rogers, who was charged with nine counts of felony child abuse. She has not entered a plea.

VIDEO: Inside Fairfield home where police say kids lived in 'squalor'

Fairfield couple has been charged with everything from child neglect to torture after police say they discovered their 10 children living in squalor. Here's a look inside the home.

Deputy District Attorney Veronica Juarez wrote that Rogers assisted in the abuse of the children by her husband, Jonathan Allen. Juarez wrote that Rogers dissuaded the children from reporting their injuries, which include broken arms, in order to protect Allen.

The report also states that when police arrived at the Fairfield, California, home to search for a missing 12-year-old, they found nine children huddled together amid filth.

Rogers' family, including her brother and sister, sat in shock during the hearing. As they left court, they were seen sobbing inconsolably.

Police said their 10 children were tortured and sometimes for sadistic purposes. Authorities added that sometimes, the children were shot with a pellet gun and even waterboarded. Both parents denied the allegations and said they are good parents.

FULL INTERVIEW: Fairfield father accused in child abuse case speaks from jail

Ina Rogers, the woman accused in a shocking child endangerment case has now been charged with child abuse. Officials say she and her husband are facing multiple charges after it was discovered that her 10 children were living in squalor at the family's Fairfield home.

"Ina Rogers allowed the tortuous acts to occur for several years...the acts included hot water and biting," said Solano County Chief Deputy District Attorney Sharon Henry.

The 10 children, ages 4 months to 12 years old, are now in the care of Rogers' sister and her mother in Antioch. Neighbors said the grandmother is very loving, taking the children to school and on errands since both parents are in jail.

On Wednesday, the judge indicated that Rogers had tried to contact her children in violation of court orders, which was part of the consideration in setting bail.

Meanwhile, Rogers' husband is speaking out from jail saying authorities have it all wrong. He says his German shepherd puppy caused the mess of feces in the bathroom as seen in pictures released by police. Other pictures show a messy house, but he says it functions well with the older kids caring for the younger ones.

VIDEO: Fairfield mother calls child abuse accusations 'ludicrous'

Torture, child cruelty, child endangerment -- all charges a Fairfield couple now face after the discovery of ten children living in squalid conditions at their family home.

Police accuse Allen and Rogers of punching, burning and water boarding their 10 children.

"They had normal lives except for being in homeschool. They had a normal life, like I gave my everything to these children -- my everything. The police demonized me all the way down to the names I picked for my children," Allen said.

Allen said the kids have been brainwashed into thinking they were abused.

Allen is being held in jail with bail set at $5.2 million.

The Fairfield mother is expected back in court next week for a preliminary hearing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.