DAVID MICHAEL CALHOUN | Warped stepdad gets 10 life sentences for torturing children like 'Vietnam prisoners of war' by using cattle prods on their genitals, burning them with gasoline and yanking out their fingernails and toenails | ALS

David Calhoun. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). North Texas, TX. April 30, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

David Michael Calhoun, a 38-year-old man from Harleton, Texas, was convicted in March 2024 for the prolonged torture and sexual abuse of multiple children under his care. The abuse, which spanned from 2017 to 2022, was described by experts as akin to the torture endured by prisoners of war during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Calhoun received ten life sentences, along with additional prison terms, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life incarcerated.

The Monster of Moss Lake: The David Michael Calhoun Case

Basic Information

David Michael Calhoun was born in 1986 in Harleton, Texas. As of 2025, he is incarcerated in a Texas state prison, serving multiple life sentences for crimes committed against children under his care. His criminal record includes five counts of sexual assault of a child, seven counts of aggravated assault, and one count of assault by strangulation.

Background

Details about Calhoun's early life, family background, and education are limited. He resided in a fifth-wheel trailer near Gainesville, Texas, where he lived with his nephews and stepchildren. Calhoun's known associates include his wife, Ashley Elizabeth Calhoun, and another adult, Mireya Grace Evans, both of whom were implicated in the abuse.

Criminal Activity

Between 2017 and 2022, Calhoun subjected several children to severe physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. The victims, primarily his nephews and stepchildren, were forced to endure acts that included being tied up for days, set on fire with gasoline, beaten with metal pipes, stabbed with kitchen knives, and burned on their faces and genitals with lighters or cattle prods. Calhoun also used tools like Channellock pliers to remove their fingernails and toenails, knocked out their teeth with brass knuckles, and wrapped hair ties around their testicles for extended periods. The abuse occurred in multiple locations across East Texas, including Harleton, Jefferson, and Athens.

Legal Proceedings

The abuse came to light in August 2022 when Calhoun's 16-year-old nephew was found in a Nebraska hotel room with several unrelated adults. The boy reported escaping extreme abuse at home, leading to an investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Cooke County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the York Police Department in Nebraska.

Calhoun was arrested in August 2022 and indicted in November 2022. His trial began in March 2024 in Cooke County, Texas. After less than an hour of deliberation, the jury convicted him on all charges. He was sentenced to ten life sentences, a ten-year sentence, and two twenty-year sentences, with five of the life sentences to be served consecutively.

Impact on Victims and Society

The victims, all minors, suffered unimaginable physical and psychological trauma. The case shocked the public and drew widespread media attention, highlighting severe lapses in child protection systems. Pamela Miller, a senior policy analyst with the APSAC Center for Child Policy, described the abuse as "intrafamilial child torture," almost indistinguishable from the torture experienced by POWs during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Current Status

David Michael Calhoun is currently serving his sentences in a Texas state prison. His co-defendants, Ashley Elizabeth Calhoun and Mireya Grace Evans, were also indicted and are awaiting trial.

Conclusion

The case of David Michael Calhoun serves as a harrowing reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the importance of vigilant child protection measures. It underscores the necessity for communities and authorities to remain alert to signs of abuse and to act decisively to protect the most vulnerable.

Additional Note

Given the notoriety of this case, any autographed items by David Michael Calhoun would be exceedingly rare and could hold significant value for collectors of true crime memorabilia.

VIDEO: Parents Locked Up for Abusing Kids with 'Vietnam War Torture' Methods - Facing Life Sentences | https://youtu.be/S-S8VhT22sQ

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