Tamal and Jerry Flore Convicted in Michigan Abuse Case
A jury found the couple guilty of mistreating multiple children for financial gain, with sentencing set for January.
By Renata Mehta ·
A Lansing jury convicted 59-year-old Tamal Flore of eleven counts of child abuse on Tuesday. Her husband, 61-year-old Jerry Flore, was found guilty of one count of second-degree child abuse and acquitted on nine other charges.
The Michigan Attorney General’s office prosecuted the case, alleging the couple mistreated children placed in their care for financial gain. Authorities described the abuse as occurring under the guise of discipline. The Flores have housed foster and adopted children in their home since 2007.
Tamal Flore was found guilty of six counts of first-degree child abuse, two counts of second-degree child abuse, and three counts of third-degree child abuse. The single count against Jerry Flore carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Jurors acquitted him on the remaining nine abuse charges brought by the state.
The case involves seven of the 16 children the couple fostered or adopted. According to reports, the children described being whipped with belts and beaten with metal and wooden spoons. They also said they were locked in rooms or the garage for days at a time.
The children further reported being forced to sleep in a designated kitchen area called the square for weeks. They stated that the couple made them perform strenuous exercises and withhold food if they failed to complete daily housework. The court scheduled the couple’s sentencing for Jan. 11.
