Grand Rapids couple faces felony torture of a child, alleged abuse captured on video

Grand Rapids couple charged with torture of a child

Authorities have uncovered what they call a heinous case of child abuse in Grand Rapids.

A 17-page criminal complaint outlines horrific abuse of a child in Grand Rapids.

Jaymeson and Vivian Wahlstrom both face felony torture of a child. Jaymeson is 27. Vivian is 24.

The complaint said the child is Jaymeson’s from a previous relationship.

Some of the alleged abuse is captured on video, from a Google Nest camera in the child’s room, according to the complaint.

Authorities said the child was body slammed, dangled upside down, and had her clothes ripped off of her, along with being hit.

She was also allegedly denied food, a blanket to sleep under, and permission to use the bathroom.

Law enforcement said it’s one of the worst cases of child abuse they’ve ever investigated.

The Itasca County Attorney Jacob Fauchald sent a statement:

“Following a diligent investigation undertaken by the Grand Rapids Police Department, the Itasca County Attorney’s Office has filed Child Torture charges against Vivian and Jaymeson Wahlstrom. The evidence supporting these charges is primarily in the form of numerous videos taken from a camera within the Wahlstrom home that depict the Wahlstroms engaging in barbaric assaults against a child in the home. These heinous crimes are without precedent in Itasca County and rank highly amongst some of the most abominable child abuse cases ever encountered in Minnesota. The Itasca County Attorney’s Office is treating this case with the seriousness that it deserves and will seek an outcome that is commensurate with this reprehensible conduct and in the best interests of the child-victim. The Wahlstroms will make their first court appearance in this case today and the Itasca County Attorney’s Office will seek to have them held in jail pending the final outcome of this matter.”

The couple’s next court appearance is December 26th. Bail was set for Jaymeson at $160,000, and Vivian’s at $200,000, both without conditions.