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Old Bottling Plant Bought by Betsy Kelly's Father
Warren Twidy bought and renovated an old bottle plant for his daughter so that her and her husband Bob Kelly could relocate their business, the Little Rascals Daycare center. -
Daycare Opens and Problems Already
Just days after the daycare opened a child complained to his mother that Bob Kelly slapped him. Bob claimed that it was an accident, though he did not deny the hand slap. -
The Case Begins
The case begins when a mother, Audrey Stever tells investigator Brenda Toppin that her 3 year old son Kyle asked her to stick her finger up his butt. She also caught him masturbating. He told his mother that he learned this while "playing doctor" with an older kid. The boy also felt unhappy at Little Rascals Daycare. -
Sexual Abuse Complaints
Bob and Betsy Kelly were informed in January 1989 that someone had told local authorites that sexual abuse was happening at the Little Rascal Daycare. Betsy met all parents at the entrance the next day to inform them personally of the charge. Most parents were in shock and disbelief as they knew the Kelly's as good people. -
Things Change
At first, people defended the Kelly's, but things started changing as two or three sets of parents became suspicious of the daycare and the Kellys and began sending their children to see therapists. One of those therapists, named Judy Abbott, had a meeting with four sets of parents in February, 1989 in Edenton. -
Bob Kelly Arrested
Bob Kelly was arrested in April with a bond set at $1.5 million and the daycare was closed on April 28, 1989. By the time May rolled around the few kids going to therapy had become a horde. It in therapy that many of the children made first allegations of sexual abuse happening which makes this case seem very fishy. Also the four therapists who most of the kids were seeing, were being paid for by the state. -
Betsy Kelly And Others Arrested
Betsy Kelly is arrested. Many others were arrested as well. Close to thirty people would be named for sexual abuse even though children initially denied being abused by people at the daycare. -
Mass Hysteria
The twon of Edenton, North Carolina was filled with fear and speculation. The daycare workers who had not been arrested were afraid they would be next to go to prison though they had their own kids enrolled at the daycare. Those who had not been arrested said they trusted Bob and Betsy and the others and that they did not notice anything suspicious. -
Bob Kelly's Trial Begins
The jury section is selected for the Bob Kelly Trial. Betsy Kelly's bond is reduced from $1.8 million to $400,000. -
Betsy Kelly Released on Bond
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Bob Kelly Convicted and Sentenced
Bob KElly is convicted on 99 of 100 counts of sexual abuse on April 22,1992. The next day, he was sentenced to 12 consecutive life sentences. A total of 12 children testified against him. They told incriminating stories and even some really weird ones, but none of them directly said that anyone at the daycare sexually abused them. -
Bob Kelly files for new trial
Kelly filed for a new trial based on improper conduct by jurors. -
Betsy Arrested and Bob Denied
Betsy Kelly accept a seven year sentence in prison and is eligible for probation after two years. Bob Kelly's request for a second trial is declined. -
Betsy begins serving her time
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Bob Kelly's appeal filed
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Mark Montgomery argues for Bob
Mark Montgomery argues Bob's case to the court of appeals. -
Bob Kelly's conviction overturned
His conviction is overturned by the Appellate Court of North Carolina. Also Dawn Wilson, the cook at the daycare, had her conviction overturned. -
Supreme Court says no sirree.
The Supreme Court of North Carolina upholds the Appellate Court's decisions. -
Bob Kelly hearing/release
Bob Kelly has a hearing and his bond is reduced to $200,000. On September 22 he is released on bond. On October 29 Bob and Betsy Kelly separate. -
Bob Kelly Arrested again
The state indicts Bob Kelly on new charges and he is put in a county jail with a bail of $50,000 which is paid by his employer Glenn Livingston. Gerald Beaver, his attorney has Bob's new charges adjoined to the Little Rascals charges on December 3. -
Charges dropped
Three more daycare employees' charges are dropped. -
Remaing Little Rascal's Charges Dropped
The remaining charges for the Little Rascal's case are dropped for Bob Kelly and the remaining defendants. Prosecutors still plan on prosecuting Kelly for separate charges saying he raped a young girl outside the daycare in 1987. -
Remaining Charges Dropped
Finally, the remaining charges against Bob Kelly are dropped and his is a free man. He probably feels relieved to be out that cluster of a court-case. The law is off of his back and this is all behind him.
