An Oklahoma pastor and his wife have been charged with child abuse, kidnapping, and child neglect of as many as eight children.
Blackwell Police say Keith and Candy Holt beat the children with a board and locked them in a bathroom for days without food or water as a punishment, KOKH reported.
Police Chief Jay Brewer said the Oklahoma Department of Human Services notified them about several children left home alone earlier this month, and they received several calls from concerned people about the home.
Officers went to the Holts’ home on Sunday, but they refused to open the door. On Monday, the DHS went to the home, but again, the Holts didn’t answer the door.
On Tuesday, the Holts let the investigators inside, where police say they found enough evidence to arrest them for child abuse.
The children were taken into protective custody.
Keith Holt told officers he was the lead pastor at the House of Prayer Church in Blackwell, but the church said on its Facebook account that John and Nellie Jack were the church’s senior pastors.
“We do not condon (sic) child abuse in any form,” the church said in its post. “Please pray for our church.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Keith and Candy Holt/Blackwell Police Department]
