18-year-old with autism has scars on ‘entire body’ from beatings, NC sheriff says

An 18-year-old man with autism was repeatedly beaten and burned by his father and stepmother, resulting in his body being left covered with scars, according to investigators in North Carolina.

Adrian Forrest Thomas and Marcie Samantha Thomas were arrested June 22 at a Yanceyville hotel, and face charges including assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and felony abuse/neglect of a person with disabilities, the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office reported in a news release.

An examination of the victim revealed “knife burns” over his “entire body,” along with “whipping marks and scars from metal clothes hangers and charging cords,” a warrant reports. Additional cuts and scabs were attributed to beatings from “a metal long rod,” and the teen suffered hearing loss from blows to the head, officials said.

It’s suspected the victim was fed only one meal a day, the warrant reports.

Evidence of similar injuries was found on another 18-year-old dependent in the couple’s care, resulting in additional misdemeanor assault charges, officials said. The second victim does not have disabilities, officials said.

The couple was living at the Executive Inn when they were arrested in Yanceyville, and deputies also found three minors also sharing the room, officials said.

Yanceyville is about a 130-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 7:37 AM with the headline "18-year-old with autism has scars on ‘entire body’ from beatings, NC sheriff says."