Ledyard Man Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse Amid Military Discipline

UPDATE: A Ledyard man has been arrested on multiple charges, including child cruelty, for allegedly abusing his four young children through harsh, military-style discipline. Elijah King, 26, was taken into custody following allegations from his sister, who claims he has been physically and verbally mistreating the children for months.

According to the Ledyard Police Department, King faces three counts of risk of injury to a minor, two counts of intentional cruelty to persons, and one count of disorderly conduct. The allegations came to light on November 3, 2023, when King’s sister reported his abusive behavior, asserting that he used physical punishment and forced the children to perform strenuous exercises.

The arrest warrant reveals shocking details, including claims that King forced his children—three boys aged 4, 3, and 1, and a 6-month-old girl—to do “military-style” pushups and crawl uphill while being sprayed with water in near-freezing temperatures. The sister reported that one child had visible injuries after being forced to remove wet clothes.

She provided police with video evidence allegedly showing the children crawling and “crabwalking” up a hill, although she noted that more incriminating footage had been deleted. She claimed that during her time living with the family, King would often punish the children for needing to use the bathroom, leading to further incidents of abuse.

In an interview with police on November 10, 2023, King denied the allegations, describing his parenting style as “conservative Christian.” He stated that his military background influences his approach to discipline, which he believes is necessary. King also claimed that his actions were misunderstood and blamed disgruntled individuals for the allegations against him.

King is currently free on a $75,000 bond and is expected to appear in New London Superior Court for a hearing. The community is now on alert as the case develops, raising concerns about the wellbeing of the children involved.

This disturbing case highlights the urgent need for protective measures for vulnerable children and brings attention to the serious implications of abusive parenting styles. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward as the investigation continues.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.