Lexington couple indicted on child abuse charges after allegedly locking kids in dog cage
UPDATE: April 7 at 12 p.m.
A Fayette County grand jury indicted Lexington couple, 32-year-old Kayla Smith and 31-year-old Brian Smith, on six counts of first-degree criminal abuse after investigators said they locked children in a dog cage and burned them with cigarettes.
According to the initial complaints filed in Fayette County District Court, siblings told their foster parents they were abused by Brian and Kayla. The children reported being placed in dog cages as punishment.
Their bond is set at $75,000 each.
Original Story:
A warrant revealed that Lexington police arrested a Lexington couple on child abuse charges after being notified by the Kentucky Department of Community-Based Services.
According to the complaints filed in Fayette County District Court, 32-year-old Kayla Smith and 31-year-old Brian Smith were charged with six counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a victim under 12 years of age as a result.
The complaints revealed that the siblings told their foster parents they were abused by Brian and his wife, Kayla. The children reported being placed in dog cages as punishment.
During an interview with one of the children, the complaints added that the couple would allegedly place a combination lock on the outside of the door “so she could not escape.”
According to Brian Smith’s complaint, the victim also reported that Brian would allegedly burn her with lit cigarettes and that her mother allegedly knew about the abuse.
Investigators later located two scars on the child’s arms that she attributed to the burns, according to the complaint.
According to the warrant, the abuse occurred from Jan.1, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025.
LEX 18 has learned that Brian Smith was served an arrest warrant and is currently being held at the Fayette County Detention Center. In addition, Kayla is being held at the detention center.
Brian Smith’s bail was set at $100,000.
LEX 18 was in the courtroom on Thursday afternoon, where Brian Smith appeared via Zoom and entered a not guilty plea.
