‘They heard the kids yelling’: Mother and grandmother allegedly blame paranormal activity for toddlers’ severe child abuse and fentanyl exposure

Two women in North Carolina are behind bars after allegedly telling law enforcement that severe injuries and trauma inflicted on two toddlers were caused by evil ghosts or some other paranormal activity.

Emily Marie Edwards, 25, and her mother, Sherrie Jean Edwards, 54, stand accused of two counts each of felony child abuse causing serious bodily injury, according to Catawba County Jail records.

The pair were arrested by the Newton Police Department last week after being indicted over allegations dating back to December 2023.

“The basic response, really, was nightmares,” Newton Police Chief Vidal Sipe told Charlotte-based ABC affiliate WSOC. “They heard the kids yelling and they’d go over there and they’d see injuries on the kids. So, they’re saying there’s spirits that were in the house at the time that caused these injuries.”

In copies of the indictments obtained by the TV station, authorities allege the women evidenced a “reckless disregard for life” and inflicted “serious bodily injury” on the two young children.

Law enforcement says the 1-year-old and 2-year-old suffered burns, bite marks, and broken bones. Additionally, each child tested positive for the presence of fentanyl, the indictments allege.

More Law&Crime coverage: ‘Frustrated’ babysitter beat girlfriend’s toddler to death, allegedly tried to blame injuries on couple’s new puppy

The toddlers’ injuries were incurred at an apartment on West C Street in Newton — a small town roughly 40 miles northwest of Charlotte.

Police allege a third adult — only identified as a man — was also responsible for the child abuse. But he died last year.

The women are the mother and grandmother of the two victims in the case. When questioned by police, they not only blamed evil spirits but also said they used a Ouija board — a popular toy for children that pretends to foster automatic writing — in order to conjure spirits.

More Law&Crime coverage: Parents allegedly blame ‘very fragile’ newborn for his 18 rib fractures, brain hemorrhaging

Law enforcement, on the other hand, alleges the two demon-haunted defendants bear culpability for the toddlers’ extensive injuries. Specifically, police allege the children had bruising and damage to their skin which they both failed to report.

A neighbor who spoke with WSOC rejected the haunted apartment claim allegedly advanced by the two Edwards women.

“I think that’s crazy,” she said. “I don’t believe there’s any paranormal activity here.”

More Law&Crime coverage: ‘I’ll eliminate her my damn self’: Florida mother allegedly whipped 3-year-old daughter with hanger on FaceTime video, claimed her ex created the footage with AI

Both the mother and the grandmother are being detained on $250,000 bond.

The younger defendant appeared in court over the weekend and does not have another hearing scheduled as of this writing. The older defendant is next slated to appear in court on Oct. 7.

Law&Crime reached out to the Newton Police Department for additional details on this story but no response was immediately forthcoming at the time of publication.