A Greenville, South Carolina, pastor and his wife are facing serious allegations of decades-long abuse involving their adopted children, including sexual assault, severe physical punishment, and the deliberate killing of family pets, authorities said.
Investigators began looking into 73-year-old Myron Chorbajian and 71-year-old Kathleen Chorbajian in April 2025 after a family member reported extensive abuse dating back to the 1980s.
The investigation uncovered disturbing accounts, including children being forced to eat from dumpsters, paddled repeatedly, and compelled to sleep in trash receptacles.
In one incident, Myron Chorbajian allegedly ran over a child’s kitten and later shot it in front of the victim. Another report detailed a dog being killed in the home while children watched.
According to arrest warrants, Myron Chorbajian sexually abused multiple female children and carried out extreme physical punishments.
The documents describe one child being paddled 50 times while naked, another beaten with a belt until losing consciousness, and a third forced to consume dirt from the floor.
Authorities say Kathleen Chorbajian was aware of the abuse but failed to intervene or report it, leading to multiple charges against her, FOX Carolina reported.
The couple was arrested on May 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, during an event at the Grand Ole Opry.
They were later extradited to Greenville County for processing.
Myron Chorbajian faces three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, three counts of incest, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, 14 counts of unlawful placement of a child at risk, and two counts of second-degree assault and battery.
Kathleen faces 14 counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk and two counts of felony accessory after the fact.
Bond for both defendants was initially denied.
This month, a judge granted Kathleen Chorbajian a $120,000 surety bond with strict conditions, including house arrest, GPS monitoring, and prohibitions on contact with victims, minors, or her husband.
Myron Chorbajian remains in custody without bond.
Beyond the abuse allegations, investigators discovered potential financial crimes.
Court records indicate Myron allegedly took out life insurance policies on adult children without their consent and collected payouts on deceased siblings, ranging from $150,000 to $500,000.
Law enforcement also reported uncovering over $45,000 in cash and 103 pounds of silver coins during searches of the couple’s property.
According to The Mirror, prosecutors described the Chorbajians’ actions as an exploitation of their religious authority, noting that the pastor used his position to justify abuse and control over the children.
Authorities stressed the long-term trauma inflicted on the victims and the ongoing danger posed by such behavior, particularly to foster children residing in their household at the time.
The children first came forward after decades of silence, emphasizing the challenges of prosecuting long-term abuse cases.
Law enforcement officials called this among the most severe investigations of child abuse in Greenville County history, WKRC noted, per Fox 17.
Church officials at First Southern Methodist Church in Greenville, where Myron Chorbajian served as pastor, acknowledged the arrests but declined further comment.
Investigators continue to examine financial records, property, and other evidence, and additional charges may be filed as the case develops.
