ST. FRANCISVILLE — The couple accused of brutally abusing their 12-year-old adopted daughter, a case that’s sparked outrage and led to statewide changes at DCFS, appeared in court Thursday for their arraignments.
Gretchen and Glenn Hanchey, both of St. Francisville, each pleaded not guilty to the charges against them before Judge Kathryn Jones, the same judge who signed off on the adoption of the girl to the Hancheys in 2020. The two walked quietly into the West Feliciana Parish courthouse as a small group of community members gathered outside to show support for the alleged victim.
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The little girl’s biological father, Henry Hanchey, was among those present, wearing pink in support of his daughter whom he says he’s been fighting to regain custody of for eight years.
“I’ve been trying to see her and get her back for eight years. They’ve not let me nor any of my other children see her,” he told UWK. “My wife died and they said she’d be better off with two parents instead of one, is what I was told in the courthouse right here.”
When he learned of his daughter’s condition, he said he was just “heartbroken.” “I was heartbroken, just in complete disbelief, just destroyed. I couldn’t sleep–I can’t believe it. It’s the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. I feel destroyed; I feel like I let my daughter down,” Henry Hanchey said.
Gretchen Hanchey was arrested on Sept. 26, 2025, and charged with one count of cruelty to juveniles and one count of second-degree battery. She was released on a $100,000 bond. Her husband, Glenn Hanchey, was arrested on Nov. 12, 2025, and charged with false imprisonment and cruelty to juveniles.
Adoption Timeline
According to court records, the now 12-year-old girl was adopted to Kelly Thompson, her grandmother, on March 28, 2018 in order to be able to finish the school year. Custody was to be split between the grandmother and Gretchen & Glenn Hanchey. Glenn Hanchey is the girl’s biological uncle.
During Covid however, Thompson claims the Hancheys denied the girl from visiting her grandmother due to the stay order. Court records show she only FaceTimed her grandmother one to two times.
Then on June 17, 2020, the Hancheys were given custody of the girl at the order of Judge Kathryn Jones, per court records.
According to investigators, the girl endured repeated and severe abuse while living in their home.
A report obtained by UWK describes disturbing details: the girl told authorities Gretchen “repeatedly struck her with bats, sticks, firewood and shoes.” She said she was hit in the face so hard her lip tore, then cut with scissors after an attempt to cover it with Halloween paint. The girl also described being beaten with a metal baseball bat, leaving scars and chipped teeth.
She reported ongoing pain in her back, legs, and hands from being beaten and said she was stepped on, zip-tied to a chair, and denied access to the bathroom at night.
The couple eventually surrendered the girl to a residential group home for children in Mississippi, where staff documented extensive injuries to her face, lips, teeth, and ear. They also noted symptoms consistent with trauma: nightmares, speech issues, dizziness, and uncontrollable shaking after bathing.
Following UWK‘s original report, the Department of Children and Family Services announced it is implementing new technology for its Child Welfare Hotline to ensure “no child falls through the gap” when reports are made about a child’s safety.
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