Russellville, Arkansas – A quiet Arkansas town is trying to come to terms with a shocking and deeply disturbing case of child abuse that has shaken the entire community. In the wake of horrifying details released by police this past week, the people of Russellville gathered together on Friday for a prayer vigil, hoping to provide comfort and strength for the victims — three young children—and to show their support for everyone affected by this tragedy.
The gathering took place on the steps of the Pope County courthouse, where about 30 people stood together in solidarity, offering prayers not only for the children but also for those who are working tirelessly to protect them in the days ahead. The vigil was sparked by the heart-wrenching story of a seven-year-old boy who was found in unimaginable conditions. Authorities said the boy had been bound with rope inside a closet at an apartment complex. When he was brought to a nearby hospital, he weighed only 28 pounds, a weight alarmingly low for a child his age.
Police said what made the case even more troubling was the fact that there was no apparent lack of food inside the home. Why the boy was so severely malnourished remains a haunting question for investigators and the community. The child was later airlifted to a hospital in Little Rock, where he remains in critical condition as of July 18. Doctors have described the case as one involving prolonged physical and mental torture.
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The vigil was organized by Carissa O’Bryant, who said she was deeply moved after learning about what had happened to the children involved. O’Bryant shared that she initially thought of collecting donations of clothing, shoes, toys, and books to help the kids, but ultimately felt called to lead the community in prayer instead.
“We’re all angry, we’re all heartbroken, we’re all hurting, and we all want to do something. And yesterday morning, I was thinking, you know, what could I do for these kids? Maybe, maybe we need to get clothes, shoes, toys, books, whatever they need. And I just really felt like the Lord was impressed on me, you need to pray for their futures. You need to pray for them,” O’Bryant said.
Community members prayed not only for the victims but for the law enforcement officers, hospital staff, case workers, foster families, and everyone else who will play a role in the children’s future care and healing. O’Bryant emphasized how important it was for the community to support those who will be walking this long road alongside the young victims.
“The law enforcement officers, the hospital staff, the DCFS case workers, foster families. Those who will be taking care of these children in the in the days and weeks, and years to come, just praying for these children their future,” she explained.
Among those at the vigil was Matt Duffield, the state representative for Russellville. Duffield said he was horrified by the details of the case and immediately began reaching out to local officials, including Prosecutor Jeff Phillips, to determine if there were legal avenues to pursue in order to better address and punish this type of crime in Arkansas.
“The first order of business I had was to reach out to our prosecutor, Jeff Phillips, and my first question as a legislator was, at this time in reviewing the evidence that is present, do we need new legislation to address these issues so that people who perform these atrocities can be brought to justice. And the prosecutor told me, without hesitation, that absolutely it would,” Duffield said.
Duffield explained that Arkansas currently lacks specific laws targeting the long-term torture of children, something he described as “insane” given the horrific circumstances of this case. Both parents of the seven-year-old, Chris and Katelyn Freeman, are facing serious charges including battery in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a minor. Their bond was set at $100,000 earlier this week.
“Prosecutor Phillips explained to me that next legislative session, we need to work together to bring legislation to the state of Arkansas that addresses the issue of long-term child torture, which is an insane thing to say here in the state of Arkansas and in Pope County. The best way I know to explain what happened is the devils come to Arkansas,” Duffield said.
He went on to express the urgency of taking action to protect children and ensure that those responsible for such crimes are held fully accountable under the law.
“These children were abused, not just one day, but for an extended period of time, over years and torture, and we have to do everything we can in our power to prevent anything like that from ever happening again,” Duffield added.
While legislative efforts may take time, the people of Russellville are focused on showing compassion, unity, and hope for the victims right now. The prayer vigil was a moment for the community to come together, to mourn, to reflect, and to express their collective outrage and heartbreak over what happened within their own city.
As police continue to investigate, many questions remain unanswered. Why were these children so severely mistreated in a home where food was available? How did this happen unnoticed for so long? And what more can be done to make sure no other child endures the same suffering?
For now, the focus is on the seven-year-old’s recovery and the wellbeing of his two siblings. The road ahead is certain to be long and painful, but with the community standing behind them, there is at least some light breaking through the darkness.
