ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Two people wanted on charges of domestic violence and child abuse dating bac to March have been taken into custody, police said Thursday.
Asheville police said in a news release that they received a report in July of domestic violence and child abuse. Detectives assigned to the Buncombe County Family Justice Center began an investigation and, working with Buncombe County social services and Mission Children’s Hospital, identified a pattern of criminal abuse dating back to March, police said.
Police have charged Iris Delia Melendez-Townsend, 54, of Asheville with five counts of assault by strangulation and misdemeanor child abuse. Police also charged Eric Elvin Melendez, 36, also of Asheville with six counts of misdemeanor child abuse.
Online records didn’t list a status for either suspect on Thursday, and it wasn’t known if they had attorneys.
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