Sperry Couple Sentenced In Child Abuse Case

A Sperry couple was sentenced in a child abuse case Thursday in Osage County court. Lora Lee and Aubrey Thomas were found guilty on four counts each of child abuse in a case investigators likened to torture.

The Thomases abused two foster children over a period of several years, the court found. They were found guilty in January of withholding food from the children, violently beating them, forcing them to eat vomit and manure and perform sex acts.

1/22/2014 Related Story: Sperry Couple Found Guilty Of Abuse, Forcing Kids To Eat Manure, Vomit

A judge ruled that Lora Lee Thomas will serve four life sentences consecutively. Her husband, Aubrey Thomas, was sentenced to 40 years in the Department of Corrections on one count of enabling child abuse and three counts of child abuse. Those sentences will also run consecutively.

On Friday, counsel for the Thomases filed their intent to appeal the conviction.