Alabama Parents Accused of Beating Their Daughters for Hours After Catching Them Playing During Chore Time

A simple moment of laughter between two sisters allegedly turned into a terrifying ordeal inside their Alabama home. Ronald Earl Flack, 45, and his wife, Sarah Marie Flack, 37, are facing felony child abuse charges after police accused them of repeatedly striking two of their daughters during a confrontation that reportedly lasted several hours. Investigators say the incident began on Oct. 27, 2026, when the girls were outside completing household chores.

According to court documents, the older sister was helping her younger sibling, who has a physical disability, with cleaning tasks when water from a garden hose accidentally splashed onto her. The girls began laughing and splashing water on each other. Their mother allegedly came outside carrying a belt and began striking the younger girl. When the older sister tried to intervene and took the belt away, their mother reportedly went inside to get their father.

The situation allegedly escalated when Ronald Flack came outside, took the belt back and slapped the older daughter across the face. The parents then reportedly went inside with the younger child, leaving the older girl locked outside. She later managed to get back into the home using a security code. Once inside, she allegedly found her sister on the floor and saw that she had been struck. When she confronted her parents, both allegedly turned on her, hitting her repeatedly. The older girl told investigators the assault left her gagging, dry-heaving and dizzy. She also described an argument and physical confrontation that continued for another two to three hours.

The following day, both girls arrived at school with visible injuries. One reportedly had bruising on her face and a split lip, while her sister also had facial bruising. A school resource officer contacted Northport police after a student disclosed what had happened. Investigators later reviewed photographs of the injuries and questioned the parents. Sarah Flack allegedly acknowledged using a belt to discipline the girls and admitted slapping them, but detectives said the injuries appeared inconsistent with simple open-handed slaps and more consistent with blows from a closed fist.

The investigation also raised concerns about the conditions inside the family home, which officers reportedly described as extremely cluttered and dirty. Authorities noted that the conditions could create additional difficulties for a child with cerebral palsy who uses a walker. The Alabama Department of Human Resources subsequently removed all four children from the residence. Ronald and Sarah Flack were arrested and each charged with two counts of child abuse involving torture, a felony under Alabama law. Their bonds were reportedly set at $30,000 each, and both were being held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail when the reports were published.

What began as two children playing with a garden hose is now at the center of a serious criminal investigation. Police say the evidence, including the girls’ accounts and photographs of their injuries, supported the charges. The allegations have not yet been tested at trial, and both parents are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: Law&Crime