WEST VALLEY CITY — A new court document offers more details about the investigation of a West Valley couple charged in separate cases with abusing their children.

In October, Irene Pupa, 52, was charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of child abuse, a second-degree felony, for allegedly beating her 14-year-old son with a metal broom handle, causing "a skull fracture and a brain bleed which required surgical repair," charging documents state.

Then in December, the boy's father, Isbell Pupa, 55, was charged with child abuse, a second-degree felony; three counts of child abuse, a class A misdemeanor; and witness tampering, a third-degree felony.

The Division of Child and Family Services received information in November that Isbell Pupa told the teen, "I am going to crack your head open like your mom did," according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 3rd District Court.

That information launched the investigation into Isbell Pupa. His four children, ages 14, 7, 5 and 4 were interviewed, according to the warrant.

The 14-year-old told police that when he was in eighth grade, "He received a C+ in math and Isbell became upset," the warrant states. When the boy arrived home, "Isbell told him to retrieve the rope, belt and his sister's material wrap for her stomach. (The boy) said while inside the living room, Isbell wrapped the material around his mouth, so he could not scream, 'hog tied' him with the rope and 'whooped' him with the work belt."

In another incident, the 14-year-old said "he forget to collect the trash from his parent's bedroom and bathroom" and that "when they returned home from church, Isbell 'whooped him' with the work belt, then did not allow him to eat and then sent him to bed," the affidavit states.

The teen also told investigators that when his brothers became too loud while playing, they would also be hit.

"Isbell gets upset because he wants the house to be quiet. (The teen) said if his brothers are too noisy, Isbell will make his brothers stick out their hands and he will hit them with the work belt," the warrant states.

Related story:

Second parent charged in case of abused teen

A man accused of hog-tying his teen son and beating him with a belt multiple times was charged Monday.

The 4-year-old told police that he was "hit with a belt 10 times" and that his father told him to deny it if anyone asked if he had been hit, the warrant states.

Court records indicate that on Monday, attorneys for Isbell Pupa were "unable to come to a resolution" in the case, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 4.

Irene Pupa is scheduled to be back in court for her case on Jan. 14.

Support for victims of domestic violence is available around the clock at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or by visiting udvc.org.

Related topics