Grandmother talks about Grand Canyon child abuse case

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AZ - Close relatives of three children reportedly abused at Grand Canyon National Park will be in northern Arizona this week.

Pam Beatty, the children's grandmother, told ABC15 a court hearing has been set for Wednesday morning.

She's the mother of Kevin Beatty, the children's father.

The three boys, according to the Beatty family are in the care of Child Protective Services after their maternal grandfather Christopher Carlson was arrested for child abuse.

According to court paperwork, the three boys, ages 8, 9, and 12 showed physical evidence of ongoing abuse and were hit, pushed, choked, kicked, squeezed and whipped at the hands of Carlson during several brutal hikes at the Grand Canyon.

One hike, according to the documents, was approximately 19 miles long in 108 degree temperatures.

“They just want to eat because they’ve been denied food and everything,” said Pam Beatty during a phone interview with ABC15.

According to park rangers, the boys were fed celery and hummus during the grueling hikes and given little to no water while being abused.

Pam Beatty told ABC15 each one of the boys had lost between 20 and 30 pounds.

“I would like to get my grandkids, my grandsons and bring them here (California) and take care of them here,” said Pam Beatty.

It seems Pam Beatty and her son Kevin both want custody of the children along with their mother Tara Danaher.

“I’ll do whatever I can to take care of them,” said Pam Beatty. “We (Kevin and Pam) are going to Arizona Wednesday.”

Tara Danaher arrived in Arizona from Indiana last week shortly after the arrest of her father Christopher Carlson.

The children, along with their mother and father live in Indiana, but do not live in the same home.

“I love my kids, I’m here to get them,” said Danaher while standing next to her attorney last week.

According to court paperwork, a park ranger kept an eye on the boys and waited for other rangers after it was noted that “Carlson was intimidating, controlling and would not allow her to speak with the boys.”

The boys were reportedly on a 6-week vacation with Carlson when rangers discovered the alleged abuse.

One ranger, in the paperwork, reported seeing Carlson shove one of the boys 13 times.

Kevin Beatty, during a previous interview with ABC15, said Danaher has custody of the children but he has visitation rights.

“They have blisters, which are now sores on their feet from everything,” said Pam Beatty.

In the court documents, Carlson denied any physical abuse against the children.

More details are expected to be released during Wednesday’s court hearing.

Investigators at the Grand Canyon are asking for anyone with information on the case to come forward.

If you saw the alleged abuse or have any information regarding the case, you're encouraged to call the Grand Canyon Silent Witness Line at 928-638-7767.