7-Year-Old Escapes Alleged Torture; Uncle and Girlfriend Sentenced to 25 Years

A 7-year-old girl in San Diego County escaped a mobile home in July 2025 and reported horrific abuse she says was inflicted by her uncle, Devin Hughes, 39, and his girlfriend, Kayla Reynolds, 32. Authorities say the child arrived at a neighbor’s home seeking help, covered in bruises, scars and burn marks.

Escape and Immediate Response

The neighbor contacted law enforcement after the child asked to live with him because she was being beaten and mistreated. Deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office interviewed the girl, who described sustained mistreatment inside the mobile home.

Allegations and Evidence

According to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, the girl reported multiple forms of abuse: she said she was frequently chained — often to a treadmill — made to sleep on the floor, starved and forced to consume drugs and dirty toilet water. She also alleged she was cut with a pocketknife, burned with vape pens, forced to hold her urine and then made to clean it up with her tongue. The child said her uncle tied her hands with a zip tie and caused her to fall, leaving her with a black eye.

When deputies searched the mobile home they described the living conditions as "horrendous" and recovered items such as vapes, zip ties and cable locks that corroborated parts of the girl's account. Investigators also noted the child appeared malnourished; authorities later reported she had begun to recover and had gained five pounds after being removed from the home.

Charges, Plea and Sentencing

Hughes and Reynolds were arrested on multiple felony counts, including torture, child abuse, corporal injury, mayhem and assault likely to cause great bodily injury. In March 2025 they pleaded guilty to 15 counts related to the alleged mistreatment. On Sept. 11, 2025, both defendants were sentenced to 25 years in state prison.

"The level of abuse inflicted on this 7-year-old child is abhorrent and heartbreaking," said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. She said the child is now living with another family member and has a chance to recover away from the abusive environment.

Support and Reporting

If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.