Dad, step charged with abusing 9-year-old twins; did dad have custody? (Lexington, North Carolina)

A very typical child abuse news story in many ways in that more is not reported than reported.

What happened to the mother of these twins? Is she alive, dead, or "disappeared"?

If deceased, do we know for a fact that it was from natural causes?

If "disappeared," do we know if domestic violence was involved in some way?

If alive, was she forced to share custody with the abusive father or did he strip her of custody all together? Did he get custody/visitation despite earlier evidence of child abuse and/or domestic violence? If so, what judge(s) were involved?

Lots of back story not revealed....

Dad is identified as NICHOLAS BRANDON BARNES.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20150519/News/305199987

Father accused of abusing two 9-year-old children

Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 10:18 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 10:18 a.m.

A father is accused of child abuse with his two 9-year-old children, joining their stepmother who was arrested earlier this month for the same charges, according to arrest warrants.

Lexington police officers have charged Nicholas Brandon Barnes, 29, of 5 Hackney St., with two counts of felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury. He was placed in the Davidson County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond for the charges.

Kimberly Marie Barnes, 36, of 205 Link Circle, was arrested May 1 and placed in the Davidson County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Detective Aimee Harvey of the Lexington Police Department alleged the stepmother and father committed the offenses in October 2014. They are accused of using excessive and inappropriate physical discipline on the children, which caused bruising on multiple areas of the body and face.

Earlier this month, Robby Rummage of the LPD said his agency received the case from social services.

While being arrested Sunday for the child abuse charges, Nicholas Barnes also was charged with misdemeanor larceny and resisting a public officer. An officer with the LPD alleges Barnes stole $17.50 in beer and tools from Walmart on Lowe's Boulevard. Barnes is accused of running and pulling away from an officer while being placed under arrest for larceny, according to an arrest warrant.

The Barneses are scheduled to appear June 9 in Lexington District Court.