Alabama Parents Accused of Beating Their Two Daughters for Hours After Catching Them Playing During Chores

A mother and father in Alabama are facing serious child-abuse charges after police say they violently assaulted two of their daughters over an incident involving a garden hose while the girls were supposed to be doing household chores. One of the children reportedly suffered a beating that continued for two to three hours, leaving her bruised, dizzy and struggling to breathe normally.

Ronald Earl Flack, 45, and his wife, Sarah Marie Flack, 37, were arrested in early November and each charged with two counts of child abuse involving torture. The investigation began after a school resource officer contacted Northport police on October 28, 2026, when one of the girls told a teacher that she and her sister had been attacked by their parents the previous day. According to court documents, the sisters had been cleaning outside when one accidentally splashed water on the other. The girls began laughing and playfully splashing each other with the hose.

Police allege that Sarah Flack came outside carrying a belt and began striking the younger girl, who has cerebral palsy and uses a walker. Her older sister reportedly intervened and took the belt away, believing her sibling should not be punished for playing with water. Ronald Flack then allegedly came outside, took the belt back and slapped the older girl across the face. The parents reportedly went inside with the younger daughter, leaving the older girl outside.

The older girl later used a security code to enter the home and said she found her sister lying on the floor. She then became involved in a confrontation with both parents. According to the police account, the girl said she was repeatedly struck in the face, at one point becoming dizzy and gagging and dry-heaving. She described the ordeal as continuing for approximately two to three hours. An older brother reportedly intervened briefly, but the alleged assault continued. The following day, both sisters arrived at school with visible facial injuries. The older girl had a split lip and bruising near her eye, while the younger girl also had a bruise on her face.

When questioned by investigators, Sarah Flack reportedly acknowledged using a belt to discipline one daughter and slapping the other, describing the incident as a punishment for failing to complete chores. However, investigators said photographs of the girls’ injuries appeared inconsistent with being struck only with an open hand and were more consistent with blows from a closed fist. An investigator also described the family home as extremely dirty and cluttered, raising concerns about the living conditions for a child who relies on a walker.

Authorities removed all four children from the home during the investigation. Ronald and Sarah Flack were booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where each was being held on a $30,000 bond, according to reports. Both parents face two counts each of child abuse-torture. The allegations have not yet been proven in court, and the case remains a criminal proceeding.