Photos: Joshua Kirby and Amanda Gayle Good
A couple from Stone County has been arrested in connection with a child abuse case involving three young children, including allegations of water boarding and demons causing the abuse. Thirty-two-year-old Joshua Kirby and 32-year-old Amanda Gayle Good of Mountain View were arrested after authorities were called to their residence Sept. 17.
According to the probable cause statements from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, when deputies arrived at the house in rural Mountain View, they encountered Kirby and Good, along with their three children, ages 6, 3 and 1. The 6-year-old had a hand-sized red whelp on the side of her face. When asked what happened, she stated, “Daddy hit me.” Deputies found the 3-year-old shaking under a blanket in a bedroom. When they finally were able to get her to come out, she had a bruise on her thigh and buttock area. When asked how she got the bruise, she said, “Daddy.” The 1-year-old boy had a bruise on his cheek below his eye and some bruises on his back.
Both Kirby and Good were arrested, and while Good was being put in the deputy’s car, she said, “He can’t help what he does to the girls, it’s the demon in him.”
During questioning by investigators, Good was asked about allegations made against her that she “water boarded” the kids by holding them down and pouring water in their faces. She told investigators she poured water over the heads of the children to cleanse them from the “evil” that was attacking their family. Later in the interview, she said the kids were thirsty, and she was pouring water into their mouths so they could drink. She finally admitted she must have been pouring more water than she thought.
During his questioning by investigators, Kirby was asked how the marks on the 6-year-old got there, and he said, “I did it”, with the investigator noting Kirby showed no remorse. He said “demons” had been attacking him and his family, and that’s how the children got the marks on them.
Both Kirby and Good told law enforcement they have mental issues and have been off their medicine. Kirby said the pair had used methamphetamine several days prior to being arrested.
Kirby and Good are each charged with three felony counts of domestic battery in the second degree and three felony counts of permitting abuse of a minor. Both are free after posting bond.
The children were turned over to the Department of Human Services and placed in the foster care system.
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