North Andover woman faces child abuse charges

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A North Andover woman has been charged in connection to a child abuse investigation involving her husband and two daughters.

Anne Ladd, 32, was expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Salem Superior Court on child abuse charges after an indictment was handed up by an Essex County Grand Jury on June 18. She faces charges of permitting assault and battery on a child, permitting assault and battery on a child causing serious bodily injury, and child endangerment.

The 32-year-old's husband, Justin Ladd, 33, is facing 21 counts that include indecent assault and battery of a child under age 14, open and gross lewdness, and intimidation of a witness.

Ladd is accused of abusing his stepdaughters between September 2008 and February 2013. A spokesperson for the Department of Children and Families told FOX 25 the 14-year-old and 16-year-old have been in their custody since August 2013.

"The Department has had prior involvement with the family and is reviewing the case, while cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation," read the statement in-part.

The teens told a social worker about the alleged abuse on April 14 and a joint interview was held on April 23.

The girls claim Ladd would beat them with a hammer and pull on their tongues with a pair of pliers. They further allege that Ladd called them racial slurs and exposed himself to them and their siblings.

Cox Media Group