(COLDWATER) - Additional charges have been filed against a Quincy couple arrested for child abuse.
Branch County District Court officials say that Prosecutor Zach Stempien filed charges of first degree child abuse against 34 year old Matthew Boatrite and 32 year old Cassandra Boatrite.
Matthew Boatrite is also charged with a felony count of false imprisonment after he reportedly held a foster child at gunpoint and by the neck during a situation.
The couple were arrested in December 2025 following an investigation into allegations of child abuse against their four biological children and three foster children. At that time Matthew Boatrite was charged with 6 counts of second degree child abuse, 4 counts of strangulation, 2 counts of assault with a weapon, 1 count of felony firearm, 6 counts of fourth degree child abuse and 3 counts of domestic violence.
Cassandra Boatrite was charged with 6 counts of second degree child abuse, 4 counts of strangulation, 6 counts of fourth degree child abuse and 2 counts of domestic violence.
The children were interviewed by authorities and all seven said they had been physically and verbally abused. They said they had been choked, forced to drink dish soap until they vomited, and had been hit with belts and boards.
The Boatrites waived their preliminary hearing. A pretrial conference is scheduled for March 2 in Branch County Circuit Court. They remain held in the Branch County Jail with bond set at $200,000 each.