According to the Essex County DA's office, a North Andover, Massachusetts, woman has been arrested on child abuse charges in the wake of an investigation into her husband, who has been accused of torturing his two stepdaughters for years.
Anne Ladd, 32, will be arraigned in Salem Superior Court Tuesday on the charges of permitting assault and battery on child, causing serious bodily injury and two counts of child endangerment in connection with the allegations that her husband, Justin Ladd, harmed her two children.
Justin Ladd is accused of torturing his two stepdaughters for five years, including hitting them with hammers, threatening gang rape as punishment and pulling their tongues and toes with pliers. (according to allegations outlined in court documents.) He was ordered held without bail after his dangerousness hearing was waived.
He faces 21 criminal charges, including indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14, open and gross lewdness, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and intimidation of a witness.
The two victims are reportedly now aged 14 and 16. They are in state custody.
