Wake County couple accused of torturing child appear in court
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- An 11-year-old girl was subjected to what authorities described as torture, including being forced to place her feet in scalding water that caused blisters and permanent scarring, according to details revealed during a court hearing Thursday.
Christopher Ross and Tamara Ross appeared before a Wake County judge via video conference, facing multiple child abuse charges. The victim was identified in court as Tamara Ross' biological daughter and Christopher Ross' stepdaughter.
"Mrs. Ross, you're on a first appearance for intentional inflicting serious bodily injury. It's a class B two felony and facing maximum punishment of 393 months in prison," the judge said during the hearing.
Prosecutors outlined a series of alleged abuses, including physical harm, food deprivation, and what they described as waterboarding.
"He had a washcloth all over her mouth and in the water, essentially waterboarding her where she could not breathe," a prosecutor said.
Another prosecutor told the court, "I was informed that this defendant made her consume all her calories at one meal, did not ever eat at any point during the day. She was not allowed to eat on Saturdays."
The most alarming allegation involved a threat by Christopher Ross to kill the child.
"He threatened to kill _____ in front of Miss Ross and told her at one point that he was going to wrap her in a blanket and a rug, set the house on fire, leave her in there and tell firefighters and investigators that he could not get her out," the prosecutor said.
Court documents indicate the alleged abuse occurred in 2023 and 2024, though charges were filed this week. Neither defendant currently has custody of any children. Prosecutors also said Tamara Ross failed to report the abuse, noting that "at the time she was an elementary school teacher at Douglas Elementary."
The investigation remains active. Authorities said they have seized two of Christopher Ross' cellphones, which they believe contain multiple recordings documenting the alleged abuse.
The couple is scheduled to return to court at 9 a.m. on April 9.
