MICHELLE MAXSON

MARQUETTE — Dr. Colin Irish and his wife Carrie Irish were arraigned in the 96th District Court of Marquette on charges in addition to what they faced previously.

They were both charged with two counts of first degree child abuse, two counts of committing first degree child abuse in the presence of another minor and two counts of committing second degree child abuse in the presence of another minor.

Colin Irish was also charged with two counts of failure to report child abuse to being a mandated reporter. All four defendants are scheduled to appear in the 96th District Court on April 14 for a preliminary hearing.

On Feb. 17, deputies from the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in Marquette Township to investigate allegations of child abuse that were reported by Child Protective Services. At the residence, deputies made contact with the homeowners, 57-year-old Colin Irish and his wife Carrie Irish, 49.

The investigation revealed that the Irishs locked their 10-year-old special-needs son in a closet for several hours a day over the period of several months.

It was also found that Colin and Carrie Irish forced their child to sleep wearing only underwear and refused to provide the child with a mattress, blanket or pillow allowing the child to only sleep on the closet floor.

There were no heating vents, windows and the closet walls were modified with plastic sheet panels with linoleum floors and a lock on the doors exterior to prevent the child from exiting. It was discovered the child had defecated and urinated in the room multiple times and then forced to clean it, leaving a strong odor of cleaning solution in the air. Child Protective Services removed all three minor children from the home placing them temporarily in foster care. The 10-year-old child was transported by EMS to UPHS Marquette and treated for possible frostbite to the child’s feet and then turned over to foster care.

On Feb. 18, both parents were arrested for second-degree child abuse, which is a felony punishable up to 10 years in prison. Colin Irish posted a $25,000 bond and Carrie Irish posted 10% of $25,000. Both have been released from custody and ordered to have no contact with the three minor children.

The sheriff’s office was assisted in the investigation by Child Protective Services and the Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center.

On March 7, the Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office authorized arrest warrants for 47-year-old Michelle Maxson and 80-year-old Linda Maxson of Marquette Township. Warrants for both are in connection to the child abuse investigation involving Colin and Carrie Irish on Feb. 18.

New information alleges that an 8-year-old child living in the Irish home was neglected from receiving proper medical care for ongoing medical needs. Michelle and Linda Maxson shared a household with Colin and Carrie Irish while the 8-year-old and 10-year-old children were allegedly abused.

On Monday, Michelle Maxson was taken into custody on second degree child abuse, two counts of committing second degree child abuse in the presence of another minor and two counts of failure to report child abuse to being a mandated reporter. Michelle Maxson was released from the Marquette County Jail on Tuesday on a $2,000 cash bond. Also on Monday, Linda Maxson turned herself in on a warrant for second degree child abuse and two counts of committing second degree child abuse in the presence of another minor. Linda posted a $1,000 cash bond and was released.