Authorities arrested a South Carolina pastor and his wife outside the Grand Ole Opry on May 15 following decades-old accusations of extreme child abuse involving their eight children.

According to the Daily Mail, Myron and Kathleen Chorbajian were extradited to South Carolina after their arrest and now face nearly 40 charges linked to alleged physical and sexual abuse at their Greenville home for more than two decades.

The couple—Myron Chorbajian, 73, and Kathleen Chorbajian, 70—had been living in Greenville, South Carolina, since 1983, according to public records. The accusations stem from incidents that allegedly took place between the 1980s and early 2000s under their roof. Seven of the eight children involved were adopted, and one was biological.

A tip from one of the victims in April 2025 led law enforcement to open an investigative case. Within weeks, Myron and Kathleen were located in Nashville, where they were arrested outside the famed Grand Ole Opry. They were then returned to South Carolina to face extensive charges in Greenville County.

According to arrest warrants and investigative reports, Myron is accused of severe acts of misconduct, including multiple counts of sexual abuse and physical violence. He is charged with three counts of incest and three counts of criminal sexual contact with minors, among other felonies. Victims were reportedly between the ages of 11 and 14 at the time of the alleged sexual abuse.

Pastor accused of repeated physical violence

Aside from the sexual abuse claims, authorities say Myron subjected his children, both sons and daughters, to brutal punishment. Incidents reportedly included beatings with belts or paddles, sometimes up to 50 lashes while the children were undressed. In one case, a child was beaten unconscious.

Investigators claim the abuse extended to psychological and environmental torment. Myron allegedly forced children to dig through dumpsters for rotten food and eat it. In another alleged incident, a child as young as seven was made to sleep in and eat from a garbage can.

Physical injuries from these alleged actions were often severe. Deputies say Myron broke a mug over a child’s head, which reportedly resulted in a long-term health condition—epilepsy. Other tragic accounts include the pastor allegedly killing a child’s pet dog and forcing the child to bury the body with no explanation. Another child reportedly witnessed him run over and shoot their kitten in the head.

Wife facing charges for not intervening

Kathleen Chorbajian, though not charged with sexual misconduct, is accused of failing to prevent or report the abuse. Authorities say she was present during multiple incidents and allowed them to occur without intervention. She faces 14 counts of placing a child at risk and two counts as an accessory after the fact to two felonies.

The allegations against the pastor’s wife include forcing a child to eat a bar of soap and, in another incident, striking a child in the head with a skillet. The resulting head trauma left noticeable bruising. Her arrest warrant indicates she was aware of the punishments and contributed to the household environment that enabled them.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office reported that two of the eight victims, who were children during the time of the alleged abuse, have since died. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death for either individual.

Pastor continued preaching weeks before the arrest

Despite the nature and extent of the allegations, Myron Chorbajian was still active in his role at 1st Southern Methodist Church shortly before the investigation began. Church social media posts show him preaching as recently as April 27, 2025, less than three weeks before his arrest.

It remains unclear if the church or its congregation had any knowledge of the accusations prior to law enforcement involvement. There has been no official statement confirming whether Myron has been formally removed from his pastoral duties since the arrest.

Following their extradition, both Myron and Kathleen are being held without bond at the Greenville County Detention Center. They have not entered pleas, and court proceedings are expected to unfold over the coming months.

The case may lead to lifelong sentences

If convicted on all or most charges, the Chorbajians may face lifetime prison sentences due to the volume and severity of the alleged crimes. Given their respective ages—73 and 70—the outcome could amount to the remainder of their lives spent behind bars.

Deputies emphasize that the investigation remains ongoing and may extend to additional witnesses or evidence. Law enforcement has yet to release further details about how the case may proceed, particularly regarding testimonies from surviving victims.

Authorities credit one of the surviving children for stepping forward after years of silence. That individual’s report in April was the catalyst for the investigation that ultimately led to the couple’s arrest in Tennessee.