Ledyard Man Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse, Military Discipline

UPDATE: A 26-year-old man from Ledyard, Connecticut, has been arrested on serious charges of child abuse and endangerment involving his four young children. Elijah King faces multiple counts, including three counts of risk of injury to a minor and two counts of intentional cruelty, according to the Ledyard Police Department.

The arrest, made on November 3, 2023, follows allegations from King’s sister, who reported physical and verbal abuse occurring over several months. She alleged that King employed military-style discipline, forcing his children to perform strenuous exercises, including “military-style” pushups, and crawl on their hands and feet up a hill while being sprayed with water in cold temperatures.

The sister moved into a shared home with King and his family in early September. She claimed that she reported the abuse shortly after moving out and provided video evidence to the authorities. The footage allegedly shows children crawling while visibly wet, which she described as a distressing scene. Some of the most severe incidents, she stated, were not captured on video due to deletion.

According to her report, King forced some of the children to remain in bed, even when they needed to use the bathroom, resulting in them urinating in bed. She claimed that King would then physically punish them. Additionally, he allegedly “wrestled” with the boys, putting them in headlocks that left them gasping for air.

During a police interview on November 10, King denied the allegations, attributing criticism of his parenting to “disgruntled” individuals. He described his approach as “conservative Christian,” emphasizing a belief in discipline rooted in physical exercise due to his military background. He strongly refuted claims of spraying water at his children.

King is currently free on a $75,000 bond and is set to appear in New London Superior Court for further proceedings. As this case unfolds, community members are urged to stay informed about developments surrounding these troubling allegations.

This urgent situation highlights serious concerns regarding child welfare and the need for immediate intervention in cases of abuse. The Ledyard community is watching closely as authorities continue their investigation.