Delaware News

Mary and Charles Vinson sentenced to over 150 years in serial child abuse case

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Thursday, February 29, 2024


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A Kent County couple will effectively spend their lives in prison for the serial abuse and torture of their children, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today.

“These children went through hell,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Now they never have to worry about their abusers again. Even when these cases are strong, they are not easy. The facts are chilling. Knowing what these children experienced weighs on all of us. But knowing that they are safe now is why we do this work. I’m grateful to the prosecutors and law enforcement who rescued them from this torture.”

On Thursday, a Superior Court judge sentenced Mary Vinson, 46, and Charles Vinson, 37, to 106 years and 49 years in prison, respectively. The Vinsons were convicted in September of dozens of felonies for abusing their children, including making them stand for long periods of time; withholding food; force feeding them; and violently and repetitively physically assaulting the victims. Both children were hospitalized several times due to the severity of the abuse, which was caught on video by cameras the parents placed in the children’s room.

One of the children was 10 years old during the abuse; the other was abused from age 11 to age 13.

The Vinsons pleaded guilty to the following crimes:

Mary Vinson:

  • Six counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Seven counts of Attempted Child Abuse 1stDegree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Three counts of Attempted Assault 2ndDegree, a Class D Violent Felony
  • Four counts of Strangulation, a Class E Violent Felony
  • Three counts of Reckless Endangering 1stDegree, a Class E Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
  • Two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
  • One count of False Statement to Police, a Class G Felony

Charles Vinson:

  • Three counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • One count of Assault 2nd Degree, a Class D Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Act of Intimidation, a Class D Felony
  • Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
  • Two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
  • One count of Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
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Mary and Charles Vinson sentenced to over 150 years in serial child abuse case

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Thursday, February 29, 2024


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

A Kent County couple will effectively spend their lives in prison for the serial abuse and torture of their children, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today.

“These children went through hell,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Now they never have to worry about their abusers again. Even when these cases are strong, they are not easy. The facts are chilling. Knowing what these children experienced weighs on all of us. But knowing that they are safe now is why we do this work. I’m grateful to the prosecutors and law enforcement who rescued them from this torture.”

On Thursday, a Superior Court judge sentenced Mary Vinson, 46, and Charles Vinson, 37, to 106 years and 49 years in prison, respectively. The Vinsons were convicted in September of dozens of felonies for abusing their children, including making them stand for long periods of time; withholding food; force feeding them; and violently and repetitively physically assaulting the victims. Both children were hospitalized several times due to the severity of the abuse, which was caught on video by cameras the parents placed in the children’s room.

One of the children was 10 years old during the abuse; the other was abused from age 11 to age 13.

The Vinsons pleaded guilty to the following crimes:

Mary Vinson:

  • Six counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Seven counts of Attempted Child Abuse 1stDegree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Three counts of Attempted Assault 2ndDegree, a Class D Violent Felony
  • Four counts of Strangulation, a Class E Violent Felony
  • Three counts of Reckless Endangering 1stDegree, a Class E Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
  • Two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
  • One count of False Statement to Police, a Class G Felony

Charles Vinson:

  • Three counts of Child Abuse 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Kidnapping 1st Degree, a Class B Violent Felony
  • One count of Assault 2nd Degree, a Class D Violent Felony
  • Two counts of Act of Intimidation, a Class D Felony
  • Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class G Felony
  • Two counts of Conspiracy 2nd Degree, a Class G Felony
  • One count of Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.