IFN Staff

A man and woman face felony child abuse after their three children tested positive for cocaine exposure following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Kyle Robert Crill, 36, of Wilkesboro Highway, Statesville, and Lora Lee Estes, 30, of Pony Run Lane, Statesville, said in a news release published on social media Monday afternoon.

The ICSO Special Victims Unit opened an investigation on September 25 after receiving a report of possible child abuse involving three children, ranging in age from one to nine years old, Campbell said. The case was assigned to Detective R. Olson, who worked with the Iredell County Department of Social Services.

Based on the nature of the allegations, DSS staff conducted drug testing on the children and their parents, identified as Crill and Estes, according to the news release.

According to the toxicology results from two separate tests, Crill and Estes both tested positive for cocaine and marijuana, Campbell said, and all three children tested positive for cocaine exposure.

During interviews with Detective Olson, both Crill and Estes admitted to using cocaine and acknowledged leaving the drug within reach of the children inside the home, the sheriff said.

Crill and Estes were each charged with three counts of felony child abuse. They were arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where they were being held Monday in lieu of a $350,000 secured bond set by Magistrate Imes.

This investigation remains ongoing, Campbell said.