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Couple Convicted in McCreary Child Abuse Case

By Shane Gilreath
SCN Contributing Editor
[email protected]

A McCreary County jury has convicted Matthew Deaton and Amanda Riddle in a case authorities describe as one of the most disturbing instances of child abuse in recent memory. The pair were found guilty of three counts of first degree criminal abuse, first degree strangulation, and tampering with witnesses after a multi-day trial in Whitley City detailed the prolonged mistreatment of two children.

The case was prosecuted by Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Bowling, the Kentucky equivalent of the Tennessee District Attorney General, along with Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys John Reynolds and Josh Price. The investigation into the abuse was led by Kentucky State Police Trooper Craig Reed, whose investigative work ultimately proved critical in uncovering the extent of the abuse in the Riddle-Deaton household.
“Thanks to teachers at a local elementary school speaking up and reporting concerning bruising on kids in their classroom, Trooper Reed was able to successfully investigate and confirm a horrible home life for two innocent kids,” Bowling said.

The jury recommended a sentence of 40 years in prison for Deaton, citing his direct role in the abuse, video evidence of which was introduced during the trial. Riddle, who was convicted of failing to protect her children from ongoing harm, having suspected and then, ultimately, known of the abuse, received a recommended sentence of 37 years. Under Kentucky law, both defendants will be required to serve at least 85 percent of those sentences before being eligible for parole.
Deaton and Riddle are scheduled to appear before Circuit Court Judge Dan Ballou for formal sentencing at a later date. The case has drawn significant attention locally, not only for the severity of the crime, but as a demonstration of the role that educators can play in bringing child abuse to light.