Alleged child abuser forced kids to stand in corner until legs gave out, court docs claim

NEW PALESTINE, Ind. — A New Palestine man is accused of beating children with a belt and forcing them to stand in a corner until their legs went numb or gave out— sometimes up to eight hours.

He also repeatedly threatened the children’s lives, according to the victims’ accounts, once allegedly saying, “If you guys don’t shut up and go to sleep, I’m going to suffocate you with a pillow and slaughter you with this knife.”

Curtis Bordenkircher, 35, is charged with four counts of neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony, in addition to two counts of intimidation as a Level 6 felony.

Court records reveal Bordenkircher was arrested on Nov. 3 after a warrant was issued that same day. Bordenkircher posted a $600 cash bond on Nov. 4 and is set to return to court on Dec. 4 for a pretrial conference.

He was ordered to have no contact with any of his four victims.

According to court documents, the investigation into Bordenkircher began on Oct. 17 when DCS received a report of alleged child abuse. The child reportedly had “light blue bruising” on her buttocks from being whipped with a belt.

Investigators would learn that the abuse allegedly spanned beyond just the single whipping incident and a single victim. Four different children reportedly told investigators that Bordenkircher abused them and threatened them.

According to the victims’ accounts, Bordenkircker “drinks a lot of beer” and would beat them with belts, shove them into walls, choke them and strike them in the face.

“He drinks so much a day and then he just gets mad at us,” one victim recalled. “Beer, after beer, after beer.”

Bordernkircher allegedly would force the children to stand in the corner for hours and hours, reportedly saying, “You all are in the corner until your legs are numb.”

“I have no sympathy for you,” he’s accused of saying. “You stand all night.”

Court documents reveal that on Oct. 15, officers went out to Bordenkircher’s house to speak with him about the allegations. He allegedly blamed the children’s mother, claiming she “manipulates” the kids.

An officer spoke to the children during this visit and reportedly asked if they were having a good time. The kids “shook their head no,” according to the officer, and two began to cry.

While officers were still on scene, Bordenkircher allegedly admitted to “spanking” one of the children three times. Officers also noted that Bordenkircher was drinking from a tall beer can while the officers were on scene questioning him and the children.

Court documents reveal police followed up with Bordenkircher on Oct. 22 and asked him to come to the sheriff’s department for a statement. He agreed to come by in the morning, but then never showed up.

A warrant was eventually issued for his arrest the same day charges were filed.

In Indiana, a Level 6 felony carries up to two and a half years in prison.