Woman Gets 14-Year Sentence In Horrific Abuse Case

DELPHI, Ind. -- A woman who abused two children in what Howard County authorities called one of the worst cases of child abuse they had seen was sentenced Wednesday.

Madeline Hawk, 44, of Kokomo, received a 14-year sentence on two counts of neglect of a minor resulting and bodily injury. Four years of that sentence was suspended.

Previous Slideshow: Police Say 2 Kokomo Children Abused Daily

The trial was moved to Carroll County because of pre-trial publicity before Hawk pleaded guilty. Hawk was one of four adults, including the mothers of the two children, arrested in May 2008.

Police said the children, both age 4, were beaten repeatedly, bound with zip ties and were often kept in closets at a home in the 1100 block of South Home Avenue.

At the time of the arrests, Kokomo police Lt. Don Whitehead said he didn't think the children would have survived at the home for much longer.

Police were called to the home when the mother of one of the children, Melissa Chandler, complained to police that someone was preventing her from seeing her daughter.

The children were found suffering from broken bones and open wounds. Chandler, her sister Jennifer Leonard, and Donald Hawk were also arrested.

Each previously pleaded guilty to various charges and is currently serving time.