The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office has arrested two Haughton parents on multiple child abuse charges. Police arrested 53-year-old Richard Kendall Thompson and 52-year-old Leah B. Thompson of Haughton, after they received video evidence of child abuse in their home.

According to the Bossier Sheriff's Office, they were provided video that shows Leah Thompson hitting children with an "instrument" on the legs, buttocks, arms, and heads. Additionally, authorities say children can be seen getting kicked in the stomach and having their hair pulled.

Investigators say the video was shot on a cellphone that one of the children in the house borrowed, and the videos were originally sent to family members. Those family members then turned the videos over to police.

After the children were taken from the home, investigators say they conducted "forensic interviews" with the kids. A press release from the Sheriff's Office says:

one of the children stated, “Mom would whip them every day, and that she would not feed them breakfast or lunch, they would only get to eat supper.” Another child stated, “Mom would poke them with a pin and make them sleep outside.” “She would smell our breaths to see if we were stealing food.” Another child stated “they would get hit with the big black paddle.” That child also stated he was pushed into a wall after taking a pickle and chicken because he was hungry.

Richard Thompson faces one count of Cruelty to Juveniles and one count of Criminal Neglect of Family, while Leah Thompson faces six counts of Cruelty to Juveniles and one count of Criminal Neglect of Family.

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