A father from Ohio, Jason Fuller, has been sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison after nearly two decades of horrific abuse and mistreatment of his seven children. The sentencing took place in Delaware County, where Judge James P. Schuck held him accountable for his actions. The abuse included forcing his then 14-year-old son to eat dog food and sleep in a shed as punishment.
Jason Fuller, 44, pleaded guilty to seven counts of child endangerment, according to the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutor Melissa Schiffel expressed relief that the children will now be safe from their father while he serves his sentence, adding that his punishment reflects almost a year in prison for each year he terrorized his family.
While Jason received a lengthy prison sentence, his wife, Kristelle Fuller, faced a lighter punishment. She was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to obstructing justice. Kristelle admitted to telling her children to lie to investigators to protect her husband.
The case began in September 2023 when Delaware County Family Services received a report of child abuse. Someone overheard one of the Fuller children saying he had been locked in a shed and forced to eat dog food when he was 14. Investigators from the Delaware Police Department visited the family’s home to look into the claim.
Initially, the son denied the comment but later admitted that about six years earlier, he was punished for “inappropriate behavior” in front of his sister. His punishment? Being sent to sleep in a shed for a couple of nights. He explained that the shed was in the backyard, and while he was allowed inside the house during the day, he had to stay in the shed at night.
When investigators asked Kristelle about this incident, she acknowledged it but declined to discuss details, citing her attorney’s advice. However, further investigations uncovered an even darker truth—the abuse wasn’t limited to one child. All seven of the Fuller children had suffered years of mistreatment. This led to Jason and Kristelle being indicted in April on multiple charges.
Jason Fuller’s abuse went far beyond harsh punishments. Prosecutors revealed he beat the children with belts, restrained them in cruel ways, and forced them to do extreme physical exercises, which once caused one child to pass out. Meanwhile, neighbors had noticed troubling signs over the years.
One neighbor, Ellie Eldredge, recalled seeing the kids running outside, sometimes barefoot, as part of their homeschooling activities. She once made scarves for the children after seeing them outside in the winter without coats. “As a mom, it was just sad,” she said, adding that the children often asked for food.
Another neighbor, Anita Shively, said the kids were made to do hard labor, such as ripping drywall out of the basement. They were also responsible for cooking, cleaning, and household chores far beyond what would be expected of children. She described the abuse as being “well hidden” from outsiders.
In court, the shocking details painted a grim picture of what the children endured. Despite Kristelle initially facing charges of permitting child abuse and witness intimidation, those charges were dropped in exchange for her cooperation.
This heartbreaking case has finally come to light, ensuring justice for the children who endured unimaginable suffering. Jason Fuller will spend the next 17 and a half years in prison, while his family begins the process of healing from years of trauma.
