News Summary
Myron and Kathleen Chorbajian, a pastor and his wife from Greenville County, have been arrested on 90 charges, including child abuse and attempted murder. The allegations span decades, detailing horrific abuse of numerous children and animals. Following a victim’s report, the couple was arrested, facing serious accusations that have shocked the community and raised a call for justice. The ongoing investigation continues to uncover further details of their abusive history.
Greenville County – A pastor and his wife in Greenville County are facing a staggering total of 90 charges, including serious allegations of child abuse and attempted murder, following reports of abuse that allegedly spanned several decades. Myron Chorbajian, 73, the pastor at 1st Southern Methodist Church, and his 70-year-old wife, Kathleen Chorbajian, were taken into custody on May 15 after a victim disclosed incidents that began in the 1980s.
The allegations against the couple are extensive, with Myron facing 63 charges, including two counts of attempted murder, while Kathleen faces 26 charges. According to authorities, the abuse allegedly involved numerous horrific acts, exposing children to extreme physical and emotional trauma.
The accusations against Myron involve severely violent behavior, including holding children underwater, which led to life-threatening situations. He is also alleged to have forced children to smoke packs of cigarettes to the point of vomiting. Additional reports indicate that he made children consume trash and feces and killed a pet rabbit in front of a 6-year-old girl, subsequently forcing her to eat the animal. Myron is accused of throwing a kitten into a van’s engine as punishment and sexually abusing a child on her 12th birthday at both their home and his workplace.
One of the most alarming allegations accuses Myron of restricting a child’s breathing during a sexual assault until she lost consciousness. Kathleen’s actions are equally disturbing; she is accused of handcuffing a child to a bed for several days and causing visible injuries by slapping them in the face. Together, they are reported to have created an environment of fear and abuse, with Myron allegedly stripping a child naked and beating her with a stick, leaving long-lasting bruises.
The depravity reportedly extended to the treatment of pets. The couple faces accusations of killing multiple animals, with claims that Myron shot a kitten and forced a child to bury their dead dog. Further allegations detail Myron beating a child with a belt until they lost consciousness.
Investigation and Arrest
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation following the victim’s report, which uncovered a troubling history of the couple adopting eight children—seven of whom were adopted and one biological. Preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that while all male children under their care suffered physical abuse, the female children experienced sexual abuse.
Myron and Kathleen Chorbajian were arrested in Nashville, Tennessee, based on warrants for being fugitives from justice. They were transported back to Greenville County on May 23, where they both remain in the Greenville County Detention Center. As the case unfolds, both have been denied bond due to the severity of the allegations against them.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Investigation
The alarming details of the case have garnered significant public attention, prompting additional scrutiny of the Chorbajians’ past and their care of the adopted children. Notably, two of the victims, who endured abuse during their childhood, are now deceased. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office has released new warrants detailing the graphic nature of the allegations, highlighting only a fraction of the couple’s alleged violent history.
This ongoing situation underscores the critical need for vigilance and support for vulnerable children, with the community now rallying for justice as the judicial process continues. As the case develops, authorities are continuing their investigation, seeking to uncover the full extent of the abuses endured by the children in the Chorbajians’ care.
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Additional Resources
- WYFF4: Greenville County Pastor Child Sex Crimes
- Fox Carolina: Graphic Pastor Faces New Allegations of Child Sex Abuse
- WRDW: SC Pastor Faces Shocking Claims of Child Sex Abuse and Pet Killings
- Greenville Online: Pastor and Wife Face Over Three Dozen Additional Charges
- Fox Carolina: Upstate Pastor and Wife Facing Additional Charges
- Wikipedia: Child Abuse
- Google Search: Child Abuse Statistics
- Google Scholar: Child Abuse Intervention
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Abuse
- Google News: Child Abuse News
