The case out of Caddo County centers on a 12-year-old who vanished from his Chickasha home and was later found on a family farm, and whose account led police to arrest his mother and stepfather on a string of violent and sexual abuse charges. Authorities say the boy escaped after years of torture, and court papers allege horrific methods of harm that reach back to at least 2020. The stepfather and mother face a combined slate of felony charges, a massive bond for the stepfather, and a suicide attempt after his court appearance.
The boy was missing for nine days before volunteers located him at the family farm in Caddo County. While he was gone, law enforcement arrested 43-year-old George Franklin Cole Jr. and 33-year-old Kimberly Cole, who are now the focus of a criminal investigation. When the child was recovered he told officers he had been trying to get away after enduring long-term abuse at home.
Investigators say the alleged abuse extended over years and involved another victim as well, with incidents traced back to 2020. Court documents list a series of brutal acts that prosecutors say were used to control and punish the child. The details in those papers describe a pattern of physical and sexual violence that prompted immediate action by state authorities.
The allegations against the stepfather are especially severe: prosecutors allege the man bound the boy with handcuffs and zip ties, stabbed and tased him, beat him with a nightstick, and used a cattle probe as a weapon. Those claims are spelled out in filings that lay out multiple counts related to child abuse and sexual misconduct. The mother faces separate charges, including counts tied to sexual abuse and crimes against nature.
Charges filed this week show the depth of the prosecution’s case: George Cole faces 14 felonies, including eight counts of child abuse, one count of child sexual abuse, three counts of child neglect, and a conspiracy count. Kimberly Cole faces 11 charges, among them multiple counts of child abuse and neglect, two counts of child sexual abuse, two counts of crimes against nature, and a conspiracy charge. The prosecution says the allegations involve repeated harm over time, not a single incident.
After an initial court appearance, George Cole was given a $2.5 million bond. Authorities say that after he returned to his jail cell he attempted to kill himself by hanging, leading to hospitalization. The courthouse appearance and the suicide attempt have added a new layer of urgency to the case as investigators continue to gather evidence and prosecutors prepare formal filings.
Family members and neighbors who have come forward describe a child who fled in desperation and relatives who tried to help him before police intervened. One neighbor, Vaughan Craddock, captured the raw reaction of people in the town when he said, ‘Some terrible world we live in. I think he went through a terrible ordeal, and I’m just thankful to God that he’s alive.’ Other relatives contend the boy had sought refuge with extended family and that efforts to keep him safe had not always succeeded.
State child welfare officials placed the boy in protective custody while law enforcement continued its probe, and the boy’s biological father is pursuing steps to regain custody. Hospital and jail records confirm the stepfather was treated after the suicide attempt, and investigators say they will keep pursuing leads tied to alleged abuse of the child and any other victims. The case remains active as detectives and prosecutors sort through evidence and work toward next legal steps.
