Sabrina Emerick, 25, and her 37-year-old partner Robert Saladaga have been arrested in Greenville, South Carolina, in the US after being accused of abusing Emerick’s two boys. The boys’ mother let her boyfriend rub hot pepper on her children’s genitals as punishment.
Saladaga is said to have put hot pepper on the genitals of one of the children as punishment for urinating on a sofa and held a pillow over the five-year-old’s face, according to detectives. He also rubbed hot sauce on the child’s face, eyes and mouth making him vomit and forced him to take hot or cold showers when he got into trouble.
The couple have each been charged with unlawful neglect of a child and two counts of cruelty to children. Saladaga has also been charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
The children have been removed from this abusive environment. Investigators have learned that each of these abuses were forms of discipline for misbehaving at school or wetting the couch while sleeping. The the mother did not participate in the abuse, but she was aware of it and allowed the children to be placed at unreasonable risk.
Following their arrests, Saladaga and Emerick have been released on bail and the children removed from the home and are living with a family member. Saladaga, who is required to wear an electronic tag, and Emerick no longer have contact with the boys. The case has been sent to prosecution for trial.