A Cumberland County woman has been arrested on several child abuse charges. 

Sandra Lurch, 66, of Hope Mills was booked on Feb. 27 after a two-month investigation. The Department of Social Services was notified of a young girl who appeared underweight and with marks on her face and neck area in August of last year.  

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Two children lived with Lurch at a home in the Fox Meadow neighborhood off Legion Road.

Lurch is facing seven charges, including:

  • Two felony counts of intentional child abuse, resulting in serious injury 
    • Two misdemeanor counts of child abuse 
      • Two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor 
        • Assault on a child under 12

          Arrest warrants indicate that Lurch intentionally injured two girls, nine and 11 years old, who she was the legal guardian of.

          Neighbors tell WRAL Lurch was fostering the two young girls.

          According to an affidavit, Lurch withheld food from them as a punishment and tied one of them to a bed with a pair of leggings to keep her there. 

          An affidavit says Lurch has “an established pattern of neglect and abuse” documented by multiple DSS reports. It also says she did not comply with DSS recommendations, including in-home therapy services.

          Neighbors say they saw DSS officials visit the house frequently.

          WRAL asked for an interview from the DSS director but was told she was out of the office. WRAL asked:

          • When did DSS first receive reports of possible issues with Lurch?
            • What action was taken from the initial reports?
              • At what point does DSS step in to intervene when abuse or neglect is suspected?
                • The affidavit said she did not comply with prior DSS instructions after visits in the past. What instructions were given and what was discovered in the visits? What is the consequence of not following those instructions?
                  • Are the children now in custody of DSS? Or where are they now?

                    “We all have a responsibility to keep our kids safe,” John Webster said.

                    John Webster is the executive director of the Child Advocacy Center and spent his career working in child welfare.

                    WRAL asked what it takes to have children removed from a home by DSS.

                    “You look for certain information to determine a risk level for the child,” Webster responded. “If the risk level rises to a very high level, and it places a child at imminent risk, then DSS will reach out to their attorneys at the county attorney's office, and they will get a local district court judge to grant them permission to remove the child or the children from their home in place in a foster home, or a similar setting as a foster home.”

                    Lurch was arrested on March 3 and posted a bond of $20,000. A condition of her release is that she is not to be unsupervised with minors or any person with a diminished mental capacity. 

                    Her next court appearance is March 18 at 9 a.m. at the Cumberland County Courthouse.