Wake County couple arrested after prosecutors say children found in 'filthy' home; one 13‑year‑old kept in dog kennel

A 13-year-old found confined inside a dog kennel, so severely malnourished that the condition was described as life-threatening, is at the center of a southern Wake County child abuse investigation that prosecutors say ranks among the worst they have ever seen.

Lacy Douglas Hocutt Jr., 34, and Rachelleigh Marie Galasso, 33, were arrested at a Motel 6 in early April after a Wake County Sheriff's Office investigation that began when six children were removed from their southern Wake County home in mid-February. Both appeared before a Wake County judge on April 3 and are being held without bond. They are due back in court April 23.

Court documents allege investigators entering the home were required to wear protective gear because of the unsanitary, hazardous conditions inside. Among the findings were a child whose untreated scoliosis had progressed to a point where prosecutors say it will cause a permanent, lifelong condition; multiple children who required extraction of adult teeth due to severe dental infections; and exposure to fecal matter that contributed to at least one child contracting an E. coli infection.

One child was documented rocking back and forth while repeatedly crying, "You're never getting out," a phrase prosecutors said they believe reflected abuse suffered during confinement in the kennel.

Hocutt faces multiple statutory rape counts, including charges alleging victims under age 15. Prosecutors said those charges could carry a life sentence. Galasso faces negligent child abuse counts for serious physical injury and bodily harm.

Cases where neglect compounds invisibly over months often reach investigators only after someone outside the home acts. Under North Carolina law, every person and every institution in the state is required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the county department of social services. Proof is not required, only reasonable suspicion.

In Wake County, the Child Protective Services intake line is 919-212-7990 in English and 919-212-7963 in Spanish, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, callers should dial 911 and specifically request a CPS report. Warning signs that warrant a call include a child who appears consistently hungry, unkempt, frequently absent from school, or showing signs of untreated medical or dental problems. Reports can be made anonymously.

SAFEchild NC, the Raleigh-based child protection advocacy organization, issued statements following the arrests citing rising neglect reports across the county and the urgency of early intervention before conditions become irreversible.

All six children remain in protective custody while receiving medical treatment. The Sheriff's Office investigation continues as prosecutors build toward what is expected to be a multi-count indictment, with the possibility of additional charges as evidence is compiled.