SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 29, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A Salt Lake County woman has been charged with 29 counts related to child abuse.
Unified police were called on Aug. 21 of this year to the residence of Sarah Louise Sorensen, 27, who reported that her roommate and romantic partner, 34-year-old Kristopher Riley North, had struck and tried to strangle her 6-year-old son.
“Red marks were on the child’s neck, scratches on his body, severe bruising, and multiple open wounds on his buttocks,” says a news release issued by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
“All three minor children of Ms. Sorensen were taken to the hospital for treatment. Through the investigation, detectives determined that Mr. North had allegedly been abusing the children since 2020, forcing them to do pushups, slapping them when they failed, kicking them on multiple occasions, and choking them. The children are 6, 8, and 9 years old.
“On one occasion, Mr. North allegedly pulled hair out of the 8 year old’s head, leaving bald spots, and on another occasion, he pointed a gun at his face. Ms. Sorenson did not report the alleged abuse in the four years it was taking place.”
North and Sorensen each face charges of:
- 21 counts of aggravated child abuse, intentional or knowingly, a second-degree felony
- Eight counts of aggravated child abuse, intentional or knowingly, a class A misdemeanor
Sorensen’s affidavit notes that, “While defendant North committed the extreme acts of violence, defendant Sorensen made the choice to watch the abuse happen, made the choice to allow the abuse to happen, made the choice not to seek medical care when needed, and made the choice to not seek help from professionals or law enforcement because ‘she just didn’t want to deal with it.’
“Additionally, when officers arrived on the scene, they located over 60 firearms and multiple gun parts within the home.”
Both North and Sorensen are being held without bail in the Salt Lake County jail system.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill was quoted in the news release.
“We all have a higher responsibility to look out for the wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our community,” he said.
“If you know or suspect that child abuse is taking place, we all have an obligation to contact law enforcement and report it. If an alleged crime is not reported, it cannot be investigated, and if it is not investigated, it cannot be prosecuted. If it is not prosecuted, then offenders cannot be held accountable.
“We appreciate the thorough investigation done by detectives at the Unified Police Department that made these charges possible,” Gill’s statement says, adding that all people accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Gephardt Daily will have more information on this case as it develops.
