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Šwhether€the€trial€court€properly€conducted€voir€dire€proceedings;€(2)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€byŠ ^#®" Šallowing€the€State€to€amend€the€presentment€for€especially€aggravated€Ō_ŌkidnappingŌ_Ō;€(3)€whether€theŠ J$š# ŠState€properly€complied€with€Defendantsšš€request€for€a€bill€of€particulars€regarding€the€charge€ofŠ 6%† $ Šespecially€aggravated€Ō_ŌkidnappingŌ_Ō;€(4)€whether€the€trial€court€improperly€admitted€evidence€of€priorŠ "&r!% Šbad€acts;€(5)€whether€the€evidence€was€sufficient€to€support€the€Defendantsšš€convictions;€(6)€whetherŠ '^"& Šthe€trial€courtššs€instructions€to€the€jury€included€all€appropriate€lesser„included€offenses;€(7)€whetherŠ ś'J#' Šthe€trial€court€failed€to€fully€and€properly€instruct€the€jury€concerning€the€especially€aggravatedŠ ę(6$( ŠŌ_ŌkidnappingŌ_Ō€charge;€(8)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€by€failing€to€merge€the€convictions€for€certainŠ Ņ)"%) Šoffenses;€and€(9)€whether€the€sentences€imposed€on€both€Defendants€were€proper.€€Defendant€JosephŠ ¾*&* ŠCombs€additionally€presents€the€issue€of€whether€seven€of€his€eight€rape€convictions€should€beŠ Ŗ+ś&+ Šreversed€because€the€State€failed€to€allege€sufficient€facts€in€the€presentment€to€properly€toll€theŠ –,ę', Šstatute€of€limitations€for€these€offenses.€€After€a€thorough€review€of€the€record,€we€reverse€DefendantŠ ‚-Ņ(-ż ŠŌ_ ŌJoseph€Combsšš€conviction€for€aggravated€perjury€and€remand€the€matter€for€a€new€trial€on€thatŠ ° Šcharge.€€In€all€other€respects,€we€affirm€the€judgments€of€the€trial€court€as€modified.Š œģ ŠĢņ ņą@ņ ņ ģąTenn.€R.€App.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;ˆŠ tÄ ŠJudgments€of€the€Criminal€Court€Affirmed€in€Part,€Reversed€in€Part,€and€Modified€in€Part.€ó óŠ `° ŠĢņņThomas€T.€Woodall,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€ņņJerry€L.€Smithóó,€J.,€joined.€Š 8 ˆ ŠņņGary€R.€Wade,€P.J.,óó€filed€a€separate€concurring€opinion.Š $ t ŠĢStephen€M.€Wallace,€District€Public€Defender;€Terry€L.€Jordan,€Assistant€Public€Defender;€andŠ ü L  ŠJoseph€F.€Harrison,€Assistant€Public€Defender,€Blountville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€EvangelineŠ č 8  ŠCombs;€and€Richard€A.€Spivey,€Kingsport,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Joseph€D.€Combs.Š Ō$  ŠĢPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Peter€M.€Coughlan,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Š ¬ü  ŠH.€Greeley€Wells,€Jr.,€District€Attorney€General;€and€Barry€Staubus,€Assistant€District€AttorneyŠ ˜č  ŠGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Š „Ō  ŠĢą@66'ģąņ ņņņOPINIONóóó óˆŠ \¬ ŠĢą@!ģąņ ņFACTUAL€BACKGROUNDó óˆŠ 4„ ŠĢą  ąOn€February€18,€1997,€the€Bristol€Tennessee€Fire€Department€was€alerted€that€a€911€call€forŠ  \ Šassistance€was€received€from€the€Emanuel€Baptist€Church€(š šEBCšš)€located€on€Weaver€Pike€inŠ ųH ŠBristol,€Tennessee.€€Timothy€Estes,€James€Gouge,€and€Jewel€Rogers,€paramedics€with€the€BristolŠ ä4 ŠFire€Department,€arrived€at€EBC€at€approximately€11:10€a.m.€to€discover€a€nineteen„year„oldŠ Š  Šwoman,€later€identified€as€the€victim,€Esther€Combs,€laying€on€the€back€seat€of€a€van€in€the€parkingŠ ¼  Šlot€of€the€church.€€Estes€testified€at€trial€that€Esther€was€demonstrating€š šseizure„like€activityšš€andŠ Øų Šš šthrashing€about,šš€with€her€arms€and€legs€waving€when€he€found€her.€€Although€she€was€awake€andŠ ”ä Štalking,€Estes€believed€that€she€was€not€coherent€or€aware€of€her€surroundings.€Š €Š ŠĢą  ąDefendant€Joseph€Combs€was€present€when€the€paramedics€arrived.€€He€told€Estes€that€EstherŠ X Ø Šwas€initially€discovered€in€the€bathroom.€€The€family€removed€her€from€the€bathroom,€placed€herŠ D!” Šin€the€van,€and€then€telephoned€911.€€Estes€asked€Joseph€to€show€him€where€they€discovered€her.€Š 0"€  ŠJoseph€unlocked€the€door€to€a€yellow€building€nearby.€€They€entered€a€foyer,€traveled€through€aŠ #l! Šsecond€door€and€proceeded€through€the€fellowship€hall.€€Estes€testified€that€the€hall€was€windowlessŠ $X" Šand€contained€two€or€three€sofa€beds,€flanked€by€a€regular€wall€and€two€large€plastic€sheets.€€ClothesŠ ō$D # Šand€trash€were€strewn€about€the€floor,€with€pathways€formed€between€the€piles€of€debris.€€EstesŠ ą%0!$ Šfound€nothing€extraordinary€in€the€bathroom€and€returned€to€the€parking€lot.€€Meanwhile,€JamesŠ Ģ&"% ŠGouge,€another€paramedic,€had€been€working€with€Esther.€€Gouge€testified€that€he€asked€a€youngŠ ø'#& Šman€who€was€sitting€on€the€other€side€of€the€seat€near€Estherššs€head€how€long€she€had€been€like€this.€Š ¤(ō#' ŠThe€young€man€turned€away€and€said€nothing.€€Gouge€repeated€the€question,€but€again€received€noŠ )ą$( Šanswer.€€When€Estes€returned,€the€paramedics€transported€Esther€to€Wellmont€Bristol€RegionalŠ |*Ģ%) ŠMedical€Center€(š šMedical€Centeršš).Š h+ø&* Š‡ą  ąEsther€turned€away€from€the€paramedics€and€curled€up€into€a€fetal€position€on€the€way€to€theŠ ° ŠMedical€Center.€€As€she€did€this,€her€shirt€raised€a€bit.€€Estes€and€Gouge€observed€scars€on€her€back.€Š œģ ŠWhen€Gouge€and€Estes€lifted€the€shirt€a€bit€further,€they€noted€additional€scarring.€€Her€hands,€arms,Š ˆŲ Šchin,€and€forehead€were€also€scarred.€€The€paramedics€reported€their€observations€to€the€medicalŠ tÄ Špersonnel€once€they€arrived€at€the€hospital€and€to€the€deputy€police€chief€when€they€returned€to€theŠ `° Šfire€station.€€Estes€testified€that,€during€his€seventeen€years€as€a€paramedic,€he€had€never€beforeŠ L œ Šobserved€that€many€scars€on€a€single€person.€€Š 8 ˆ ŠĢą  ąEsther€Combs€arrived€at€the€Medical€Center€at€approximately€11:30€a.m.€€Dr.€Gregory€AllenŠ  ` ŠGerlock,€the€emergency€room€physician€on€duty€at€that€time,€was€the€first€person€to€examine€her.€Š ü L  ŠAt€trial,€he€described€Estherššs€initial€condition€as€š šacutely€illšš€and€somewhat€delirious.€€Her€vitalŠ č 8  Šsigns€were€stable,€but€Dr.€Gerlock€was€concerned€about€her€š šmentationšš€and€the€š šnumerous€scarsŠ Ō$  Šall€across€her€body.šš€€€He€testified€that€there€were€š šscars€on€top€of€scars€all€overšš€but,€given€theŠ Ą  Šemergency€nature€of€the€encounter€and€the€number€of€scars,€it€was€not€practical€to€map€them€duringŠ ¬ü  Šthe€exam.€€Unable€to€extract€any€coherent€answers€or€information€from€Esther€regarding€herŠ ˜č  Šcondition,€Dr.€Gerlock€asked€Joseph€Combs€whether€he€knew€how€she€had€acquired€the€marks€onŠ „Ō  Šher€body.€€Joseph€responded,€š šWhat€marks?šš€€When€Dr.€Gerlock€replied,€š šAll€the€scars€over€herŠ pĄ Šbody,šš€Joseph€informed€him€that€Esther€š šfalls€a€lot.šš€€At€trial,€the€prosecutor€asked€Dr.€GerlockŠ \¬ Šwhether,€based€on€his€experience€and€training,€he€considered€the€explanation€received€from€JosephŠ H˜ ŠCombs€(i.e.,€that€the€injuries€were€caused€by€falls)€to€be€consistent€with€the€scars€and€condition€ofŠ 4„ ŠEstherššs€body.€€Dr.€Gerlock€responded€negatively.€€Joseph€had€also€informed€Dr.€Gerlock€that€EstherŠ  p Šwas€š šadopted.šš€€However,€Dr.€Gerlock€claimed€that€he€was€extremely€vague€concerning€anyŠ  \ Šadditional€information,€such€as€where€the€adoption€occurred€or€any€other€specific€details.Š ųH ŠĢą  ąTerri€Matney,€also€on€duty€in€the€Medical€Centerššs€emergency€room€on€February€18,€1997,€Š Š  Štestified€that€Esther€was€š šreal€hystericalšš€when€she€arrived.€€She€appeared€disoriented€and€confusedŠ ¼  Šand€kept€repeating,€š šIššm€sorry.€€Donššt€hurt€me.€€I€made€the€coffee.šš€€Matney€tried,€unsuccessfully,Š Øų Što€calm€her€down.€€The€medical€staff€then€pumped€her€stomach.€€Matney€observed€scars€š šfrom€headŠ ”ä Što€toešš€on€Estherššs€neck,€front€side,€arms,€back,€and€legs.€€She€had€never€before€seen€a€patient€withŠ €Š Šthat€many€scars.€€Emergency€room€nurse€Vickie€Lee€Blaylock€was€responsible€for€taking€bloodŠ l¼ Špressure€readings€on€Esther.€€At€trial,€Blaylock€testified€that€each€time€she€touched€Estherššs€arm,Š X Ø ŠEsther€would€say,€š šIššm€sorry.€€Donššt€hurt€me.€€Iššll€be€good,šš€over€and€over€again.€€BlaylockŠ D!” Šcorroborated€Matneyššs€observation,€i.e.,€that€Esther€was€thrashing,€screaming,€and€crying„„in€a€stateŠ 0"€  Šof€delirium„„when€she€initially€arrived€at€the€hospital.€€Blaylock€said€that€later,€when€Esther€calmedŠ #l! Šdown,€she€became€combative€only€when€someone€touched€her.Š $X" ŠĢą  ąDr.€Gerlock€treated€Esther€until€her€condition€stabilized,€at€which€point€he€recommended€thatŠ ą%0!$ Šshe€be€admitted€into€the€hospital.€€Esther€was€transferred€to€the€Cardiac€Intensive€Care€UnitŠ Ģ&"% Š(š šCICUšš)€of€the€Medical€Center.€€Elizabeth€Owens€Cribb,€the€assistant€nurse€manager€for€theŠ ø'#& ŠCritical€Care€Division,€was€instructed€to€take€photographs€of€the€scars€on€Estherššs€body.€€She€did€soŠ ¤(ō#' Šon€February€18,€1997,€the€day€Esther€arrived€at€the€hospital.€€Cribb€testified€at€trial€that€Estherššs€bodyŠ )ą$( Šā āpresented€layers€of€scar€tissue€along€the€inside€of€her€thighs€and€her€back,€neck,€forehead,€and€chin.€Š |*Ģ%) ŠEsther€was€drifting€in€and€out€of€consciousness€during€the€photograph€session.€€Later,€when€EstherŠ ° Šbecame€coherent,€Cribb€heard€her€ask€for€her€family.Š œģ Šā āĢą  ąDr.€Jennifer€Quesenberry€Stiefel€was€the€resident€physician€in€charge€of€Estherššs€care€at€theŠ tÄ ŠMedical€Center.€€Dr.€Stiefelššs€initial€evaluation€took€place€in€the€emergency€room,€shortly€afterŠ `° ŠEsther€arrived.€€She€described€Estherššs€condition€at€that€time€as€š šcritical.šš€€Her€eyes€were€closed€andŠ L œ Šshe€was€moaning.€€Verbal€communication€was€not€possible.€€Dr.€Stiefel€spoke€with€Joseph€Combs,Š 8 ˆ Šwho€related€the€following€information:€Esther€had€gone€to€bed€at€approximately€3:00€a.m.€thatŠ $ t Šmorning,€complaining€only€of€a€mild€headache€and€some€abdominal€pain.€€Later€that€morning,€atŠ  ` Šapproximately€11:00€a.m.,€they€discovered€her€crumpled€on€the€bathroom€floor.€€Dr.€Stiefel€askedŠ ü L  ŠJoseph€whether€Esther€had€a€history€of€medical€or€behavioral€problems.€€Joseph€reported€noŠ č 8  Šproblems,€other€than€some€fainting€and€dizzy€spells€over€the€last€two€or€three€years,€but€reported€thatŠ Ō$  ŠEsther€had€never€been€evaluated€by€a€physician.€€When€asked€whether€there€was€a€chance€that€EstherŠ Ą  Šhad€ingested€any€substance,€e.g.,€household€chemicals,€alcohol,€et€cetera,€capable€of€altering€herŠ ¬ü  Šmental€status,€he€replied€negatively.Š ˜č  ŠĢą  ąWhen€Esther€became€able€to€converse€intelligibly,€she€informed€Dr.€Stiefel€that€she€recalledŠ pĄ Šgoing€to€bed€at€approximately€3:00€a.m.€on€February€18,€1997,€and€waking€up€in€the€Medical€CenterŠ \¬ Šthree€days€later.€€Dr.€Stiefel€testified€that€Esther€denied€drinking€antifreeze€and,€when€she€askedŠ H˜ ŠEsther€how€she€had€managed€to€accumulate€so€many€scars,€her€answer€was€nearly€identical€to€thatŠ 4„ Šlater€received€from€both€parents:€š šIššm€a€clumsy€person.€€I€play€rough€and€I€fall€a€lot.šš€Š  p ŠĢą  ąDr.€Stiefel€ordered€a€variety€of€tests€performed€in€an€effort€to€accurately€determine€the€causeŠ ųH Šof€Estherššs€abnormal€mental€condition,€including€an€arterial€blood€gas€test.€€The€gas€test€revealedŠ ä4 Ša€condition€called€metabolic€acidosis,€which€indicated€that€the€patientššs€blood€was€highly€acidic.€Š Š  ŠWith€this€information,€Dr.€Stiefel€narrowed€the€problem€down€to€approximately€five€potentialŠ ¼  Šdisease€processes,€one€of€them€being€ethylene€glycol€poisoning,€and€started€Esther€on€an€ethanol€dripŠ Øų Šwith€bicarbonate,€the€treatment€of€choice€when€ethylene€glycol€ingestion€is€suspected.€€Over€time,Š ”ä ŠEstherššs€condition€began€to€improve.€Š €Š ŠĢą  ąDr.€Kenneth€Emile€Ferslew,€an€expert€in€the€area€of€pharmacology€and€toxicology,€testifiedŠ X Ø Šthat€ethylene€glycol,€the€chemical€compound€commonly€known€as€antifreeze,€is€toxic€if€ingested.€Š D!” ŠIf€the€toxin€is€not€removed€from€the€personššs€system,€two€things€typically€occur.€€First,€the€centralŠ 0"€  Šnervous€system€is€depressed,€the€effect€of€which€resembles€alcohol€intoxication.€€Second,€the€liverŠ #l! Šmetabolizes€the€compound€to€form€various€acids,€or€metabolites,€including€oxalic€acid.€€In€a€periodŠ $X" Šof€two€to€three€days,€the€oxalic€acid€will€bind€with€calcium€to€form€calcium€oxalate€crystals,€whichŠ ō$D # Šcauses€kidney€failure.€€If€left€untreated,€death€usually€occurs€within€several€days€of€ingestion.€€AfterŠ ą%0!$ Šreviewing€the€hospital€records€and€studying€the€symptoms€presented€by€Esther€on€February€18,€1997,Š Ģ&"% ŠDr.€Ferslew€concurred€with€Dr.€Steifelššs€opinion€that€she€was€suffering€from€ethylene€glycolŠ ø'#& Špoisoning€and€concluded€that€she€was€also€treated€appropriately.€€During€cross„examination,€Dr.Š ¤(ō#' ŠFerslew€was€asked€whether€a€specific€test€for€ethylene€glycol€poisoning€existed€and€whether€it€wasŠ )ą$( Šperformed€in€this€case.€€Dr.€Ferslew€replied€that€such€a€test€existed€but,€according€to€the€medicalŠ |*Ģ%) Šrecords,€it€was€not€performed.€€On€redirect,€he€explained€that€this€was€because€the€Medical€CenterŠ h+ø&* Šdid€not€have€the€ability€to€perform€the€test€on€site€and€it€would€have€taken€several€days€to€get€theŠ ° Šresults€back.€€In€a€case€where€the€symptoms€of€ethylene€glycol€toxicity€are€observed,€as€in€this€case,Š œģ Ša€confirmation€test€would€be€senseless€because€the€phase€of€renal€toxicity,€which€then€causes€death,Š ˆŲ Šwould€already€have€occurred.€€Š tÄ ŠĢą  ąWith€regard€to€Estherššs€physical€state,€Dr.€Steifelššs€š šhead€to€toešš€examination€revealed€theŠ L œ Šfollowing:€Esther€was€responsive€to€tactile€stimulation,€i.e.,€any€type€of€touch€would€startle€her.€€OldŠ 8 ˆ Šscars€ran€the€length€of€her€body,€front€and€back,€with€the€area€of€greatest€concentration€being€theŠ $ t Šback€and€buttocks.€€The€length€of€the€scars€varied€and€they€appeared€to€be€distributed€horizontally.€Š  ` ŠMany€overlapped€each€other.€€None€of€the€scars€were€recent,€and€the€causative€injuries€appeared€toŠ ü L  Šhave€occurred€at€different€times.€€In€response€to€questions€about€the€origins€of€Estherššs€scars,Š č 8  ŠEvangeline€Combs€informed€Dr.€Stiefel€that€š šEsther€was€a€very€clumsy€child.€€She€played€rough.€Š Ō$  ŠShe€fell€a€lot.€€And€she€was€a€very€active€child.šš€€Evangeline€claimed€that€Esther€had€been€born€withŠ Ą  Šclubbed€feet,€which€contributed€to€her€clumsiness.€€An€examination€of€Estherššs€feet€revealed€š šnoŠ ¬ü  Šclubbing,šš€however.€€Dr.€Stiefel€also€reported€that€Estherššs€teeth€were€in€š šhorriblešš€condition.€€SheŠ ˜č  Šhad€multiple€dental€caries€(also€known€as€š šcavitiesšš),€a€severe€overbite,€and€clearly€had€received€noŠ „Ō  Šdental€care€in€recent€years.€€Dr.€Stiefel€noted€that,€at€approximately€90€pounds,€Esther€was€emaciatedŠ pĄ Šand€underweight€for€her€height€and€build.€€She€was€also€unable€to€fully€extend€her€left€arm,€due€toŠ \¬ Šan€injury€of€some€kind.€€A€pelvic€examination€revealed€that€her€hymenal€ring€was€intact€with€smoothŠ H˜ Šborders„„a€finding€she€claimed€was€not€inconsistent€with€penile€penetration€of€her€vagina.Š 4„ ŠĢą  ąThe€prosecutor€asked€Dr.€Stiefel€if,€based€upon€her€experience€and€training€and€within€aŠ  \ Šreasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty,€she€could€state€whether€the€scars€observed€on€Estherššs€backŠ ųH Šwere€self„inflicted.€€Dr.€Stiefel€responded€that€those€scars€did€not€fit€the€pattern€or€typical€distributionŠ ä4 Šshape€of€self„inflicted€scars.€€When€asked€the€same€question€concerning€the€scars€on€Estherššs€headŠ Š  Šand€scalp,€Dr.€Stiefel€replied€it€was€š špossible,šš€but€š šhighly€unlikelyšš€that€the€causative€injuries€wereŠ ¼  Šself„inflicted.€€As€for€the€other€scars,€Dr.€Stiefel€testified€that€the€appearance€of€some€were€consistentŠ Øų Šwith€burn€injuries;€others€appeared€linear,€which€would€be€consistent€with€cuts€made€into€the€flesh.€Š ”ä ŠBurn€wounds€were€located€on€Estherššs€arms,€thighs,€and€backside.€€Dr.€Stiefel€was€informed€byŠ €Š ŠEvangeline€that€these€wounds€were€the€result€of€cooking€accidents,€as€Esther€frequently€preparedŠ l¼ Šfamily€meals.€€Dr.€Stiefel€testified€that,€all€things€considered,€the€scars€on€Estherššs€body€wereŠ X Ø Šinconsistent€with€the€personal/medical€history€provided€by€Evangeline€and€Joseph€Combs.€€Š D!” ŠĢą  ąDr.€Stiefel€learned€that€Esther€was€adopted€at€the€approximate€age€of€five€or€six€months€andŠ #l! Šthat€she€had€lived€with€the€Combs€family€since€that€time.€€Esther€had€never€attended€public€school.€Š $X" ŠRather,€she€had€been€home„schooled,€as€were€the€other€Combs€children.€€Evangeline€claimed€thatŠ ō$D # ŠEsther€had€the€equivalent€of€a€12th€grade€education€and€was€preparing€to€take€the€š šGEDšš€exam.€€Š ą%0!$ ŠAs€for€Estherššs€employment€status,€Dr.€Stiefel€was€informed€that€Estherššs€job€was€to€care€for€theŠ Ģ&"% Šchildren€in€the€church€nursery€and€work€for€her€father,€performing€cleaning€services€and€secretarialŠ ø'#& Šduties€at€the€church.€€Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢą  ąSusan€Francis€Early,€a€clinical€social€worker€employed€by€the€Medical€Center,€was€asked€toŠ |*Ģ%) Šinvestigate€the€suspicions€of€abuse€prompted€by€Estherššs€condition.€€Early€testified€that€her€first€visitŠ h+ø&* Šwith€Esther€occurred€on€February€19,€1997,€while€Esther€was€still€in€the€hospital.€€Early€noted€theŠ ° Šscars€on€her€face,€abdomen,€breast,€and€back.€€She€recalled€that€the€scars€on€her€back€were€thick€andŠ œģ Šraised€approximately€1/4€inch€above€her€skin,€running€in€€a€š šsidewaysšš€direction€from€the€base€ofŠ ˆŲ Šher€neck€to€her€buttocks.€€Sections€of€hair€were€missing€from€the€top€of€Estherššs€head.€€EarlyŠ tÄ Šquestioned€both€Evangeline€and€Joseph€Combs€as€to€the€origin€of€the€scars€on€Estherššs€body.€Š `° ŠInitially,€neither€defendant€would€respond€to€her€question.€€Later,€Evangeline€informed€Early€thatŠ L œ ŠEsther€š šfell€a€lot€and€was€clumsy.šš€€Esther€was€discharged€on€February€25,€1997.€€Prior€to€EstherššsŠ 8 ˆ Šdeparture,€Early€informed€her€that€the€Department€of€Human€Services€operated€an€adult€protectiveŠ $ t Šservices€program€and€that€the€program€was€responsible€for€investigating€suspected€cases€of€abuseŠ  ` Šand/or€neglect€concerning€adults€over€the€age€of€18.€€Esther€told€Early€that€she€wanted€to€return€toŠ ü L  Šher€family€and€subsequently€did€so.€Š č 8  ŠĢą  ąDebbie€Richmond„McCauley,€a€detective€with€the€Bristol,€Tennessee€Police€Department,€wasŠ Ą  Šalso€alerted€to€the€possibility€that€Esther€was€a€victim€of€abuse.€€Detective€McCauley€arrived€at€theŠ ¬ü  ŠMedical€Center€during€the€evening€on€February€18,€1997.€€Esther€was€unclothed€and€semi„conscious.€Š ˜č  ŠMcCauley€noted€the€scarring€on€Estherššs€face,€neck,€chest,€inner€thighs,€back,€buttocks,€arms,€hands,Š „Ō  Šand€legs.€€She€took€photographs.€€When€Esther€regained€consciousness,€McCauley€questioned€herŠ pĄ Šabout€the€scars€and€showed€her€the€photographs.€€Esther€would€not€look€at€them€or€make€eye€contactŠ \¬ Šwith€her.€€During€their€meetings,€Esther€experienced€periods€of€shaking€and€stuttering;€her€right€legŠ H˜ Šshook€very€rapidly.€€Š 4„ ŠĢą  ąOver€the€next€few€days,€McCauley€spoke€with€the€entire€Combs€family:€the€parents,€JosephŠ  \ Šand€Evangeline;€Estherššs€brothers€Jimmy,€David€and€Peter;€and€her€sisters€Cindy€and€Sarah.€€JosephŠ ųH Šcompletely€disavowed€any€knowledge€of€Estherššs€scars,€claiming€that€he€had€never€observed€any.€Š ä4 ŠAccording€to€Joseph,€Esther€played€š šrough,šš€was€š švery€clumsy,šš€and€š šfell€a€lot€on€the€pavement.šš€Š Š  ŠShe€was€outgoing,€but€did€not€have€a€boyfriend€or€any€outside€friends.€€Joseph€also€claimed€thatŠ ¼  Špunishment€of€the€Combs€children€took€the€form€of€restrictions€on€their€television€privileges€and/orŠ Øų Štheir€liberty€(š šgroundingšš)€and€that€he€had€not€spanked€any€of€the€children€since€they€were€small.€Š ”ä ŠJoseph€informed€McCauley€that€Esther€was€adopted,€but€he€did€not€recall€where€the€adoptionŠ €Š Šoccurred.€€Joseph€was€stuttering€and€shaking€while€McCauley€questioned€him.€€She€asked€him€toŠ l¼ Šsign€a€statement.€€He€refused.Š X Ø ŠĢą  ąThe€statements€Detective€McCauley€received€from€Evangeline€Combs€were€very€similar€toŠ 0"€  ŠJosephššs,€to€wit:€she€had€never€seen€the€scars;€she€was€unaware€that€Esther€had€any€scars;€Esther€wasŠ #l! Šclumsy€and€slow;€she€fell€a€lot€on€pavement;€she€was€outgoing€and€rough;€she€cooked€a€lot,€whichŠ $X" Šmay€have€caused€any€burns€that€she€suffered;€the€children€had€not€been€spanked€since€they€were€veryŠ ō$D # Šyoung;€and€Esther€was€adopted.€€Evangeline€did€not€recall€where€they€had€adopted€Esther.€€She€toldŠ ą%0!$ ŠMcCauley€that€she€would€find€out€and€give€this€information€to€her,€but,€according€to€McCauley,€thisŠ Ģ&"% Šnever€happened.Š ø'#& ŠĢą  ąOn€March€5,€1997,€shortly€after€her€release€from€the€hospital,€Esther€visited€Dr.€Stiefel€forŠ )ą$( Šfollow„up€care.€€Joseph€and€Evangeline€Combs€accompanied€her€to€Dr.€Stiefelššs€office,€andŠ |*Ģ%) ŠEvangeline€went€with€her€into€the€examination€room.€€Esther€did€not€give€Dr.€Stiefel€any€newŠ h+ø&* Šinformation€as€to€the€cause€of€her€hospitalization€and€she€reported€no€additional€problems,€other€thanŠ ° Ša€recent€burn€wound€on€her€right€third€finger.€€She€returned€three€weeks€later,€on€March€26th.€€TheŠ œģ Šburn€wound€on€her€finger€was€healing.€€Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąAt€approximately€8:00€a.m.€on€March€24,€1997,€McCauley€accompanied€a€number€of€policeŠ `° Šofficers€and€firemen€with€a€search€warrant€for€the€Emanuel€Baptist€Church,€the€location€of€theŠ L œ ŠCombs€family€residence.€€The€search€warrant€permitted€inspection€of€the€premises€for€safety€and€fireŠ 8 ˆ Šcode€violations.€€They€knocked€on€the€doors€and€could€hear€people€talking€and€moving€around€insideŠ $ t Šthe€building,€but€no€one€responded.€€The€officers€also€telephoned€the€residence,€but€no€one€answeredŠ  ` Štheir€calls.€€After€attempting€to€gain€entry€for€almost€three€hours,€the€officers€finally€forced€the€doorsŠ ü L  Šopen€with€a€crowbar€and€entered€at€approximately€11:00€a.m.€€The€entire€Combs€family€was€insideŠ č 8  Šthe€building€and€still€wearing€their€sleepwear.€€Joseph€and€Evangeline€Combs€claimed€that€they€didŠ Ō$  Šnot€hear€any€knocking€on€the€door€and€that€they€were€unaware€anyone€was€outside.€€The€policeŠ Ą  Šofficers€and€firemen€began€an€investigation€of€the€interior€and€took€photos€which€revealed,€amongŠ ¬ü  Šother€things,€the€following€conditions:€piles€upon€piles€of€trash€bags,€with€pathways€in€betweenŠ ˜č  Šthem;€mice€in€the€kitchen,€some€dead,€with€mouse€feces€scattered€about;€pools€of€black€liquid€in€andŠ „Ō  Šunder€the€kitchen€sink;€piles€of€dirty€dishes€and€spoiled€food;€a€large€room€with€numerous€beds€andŠ pĄ Štelevisions;€cats,€birds,€and€other€animals€living€inside.€€Š \¬ ŠĢą  ąOn€July€28,€1997,€Detective€McCauley€filed€a€lawsuit€on€behalf€of€Esther€Combs,€theŠ 4„ Špurpose€of€which€was€to€appoint€a€guardian€ad€litem€and€conservator€to€ensure€that€Esther€receivedŠ  p Šmedical€care,€education,€medical€insurance,€opportunities€for€employment,€a€driverššs€license,€andŠ  \ Šother€standard€personal€documentation,€such€as€a€birth€certificate,€Social€Security€card,€et€cetera.€Š ųH ŠIn€an€order€dated€September€11,€1997,€the€court€appointed€attorney€David€William€Tipton€to€act€asŠ ä4 ŠEstherššs€guardian€ad€litem.€€A€hearing€date€was€set€for€October€3,€1997.€€On€the€day€of€the€hearing,Š Š  ŠEsther€failed€to€appear.€€David€Tipton,€Detective€McCauley,€and€Joseph€Combs€were€present,Š ¼  Šhowever.€€According€to€McCauley,€Joseph€claimed€that€Esther€had€run€away€and€that€she€wasŠ Øų Šunaware€a€hearing€had€been€scheduled.€€Joseph€further€claimed€that,€although€he€had€spoken€withŠ ”ä Šher€on€the€phone€and€seen€her€during€church€services,€he€had€no€knowledge€of€her€whereabouts€atŠ €Š Šthat€time.€€At€trial,€David€Tipton€corroborated€McCauleyššs€testimony,€stating€that€Joseph€Combs€hadŠ l¼ Štestified€that€he€did€not€know€where€Esther€Combs€was€and€that€he€had€not€seen€her€in€at€least€aŠ X Ø Šcouple€of€weeks.€€Tipton€also€testified€that€Joseph€was€under€oath€when€he€made€the€aboveŠ D!” Šstatements.€€Richard€Edward€Ladd,€Chancellor€of€the€Second€Judicial€District,€presided€at€theŠ 0"€  Šhearing€and€similarly€testified€that€Joseph€Combs€had€denied€having€any€knowledge€of€EstherššsŠ #l! Šwhereabouts€and€that€he€was€under€oath€when€he€did€so.Š $X" ŠĢą  ąOn€October€3,€1997,€the€entire€Combs€family€drove€Esther€to€the€home€of€Sonja€CarolineŠ ą%0!$ ŠMeadows.€€Meadows€testified€that€they€were€waiting€for€her€when€she€arrived€home€after€work€atŠ Ģ&"% Šapproximately€5:00€p.m.€that€afternoon.€€At€Joseph€Combsšš€request,€Meadows€had€agreed€to€driveŠ ø'#& ŠEsther€to€a€Waffle€House€restaurant€on€the€interstate€near€Spartanburg,€South€Carolina.€€MeadowsŠ ¤(ō#' Štestified€that€the€trip€š šhad€something€to€do€with€[Esther]€appearing€in€court€that€day.šš€€Esther€broughtŠ )ą$( Šā āwith€her€some€clothes,€stuffed€in€plastic€grocery€bags,€and€a€cellular€telephone€given€to€her€by€JosephŠ |*Ģ%) ŠCombs.€€They€left€at€approximately€5:30€p.m.€€Esther€was€in€š šbad€shapešš€during€the€drive.€€She€criedŠ ° Šfrequently€and€spoke€to€Joseph€numerous€times€on€the€telephone.Š œģ Šā āĢą  ąAt€approximately€midnight,€Meadows€arrived€at€the€Waffle€House€restaurant€and€metŠ tÄ ŠDouglas€Carpenter,€a€personal€friend€of€the€Combs€family€and€a€pastor€at€the€Palmettoland€BaptistŠ `° ŠChurch€near€Charleston,€South€Carolina.€€Carpenter€testified€at€trial€that€he€had€offered€to€keepŠ L œ ŠEsther€with€him€and€his€family€for€a€while€š što€give€her€some€relief€from€the€pressure€cooker.šš€€ViaŠ 8 ˆ Šthe€media,€Carpenter€was€aware€that€Joseph€Combs€was€being€investigated€and€that€the€whole€familyŠ $ t Šwas€under€a€great€deal€of€stress.€€Initially,€Joseph€declined€Carpenterššs€offer.€€Later,€Joseph€accepted.€Š  ` ŠCarpenter€said€he€had€little€knowledge€of€the€court€proceedings€involving€the€Combs€family;€heŠ ü L  Šknew€that€Esther€was€involved€in€some€form€or€fashion,€but€he€was€uncertain€to€what€extent.€€Š č 8  ŠĢą  ąEsther€stayed€with€the€Carpenter€family€for€approximately€four€or€five€weeks.€€CarpenterŠ Ą  Štestified€that,€during€this€time,€there€is€no€question€that€Joseph€or€Evangeline€Combs€knew€ofŠ ¬ü  ŠEstherššs€whereabouts.€€Esther€spoke€with€one€or€both€of€them€at€least€once€a€day€by€telephone.€Š ˜č  ŠCarpenter€said€that€Esther€occasionally€cried,€usually€at€night,€and€they€did€their€best€to€console€her,Š „Ō  Šbut€most€of€the€time€she€š šdid€real€well.šš€€Esther€accompanied€the€Carpenter€family€on€shopping€tripsŠ pĄ Šand€attended€church€youth€functions€with€Donna,€Douglas€Carpenterššs€daughter€of€similar€age.€€TheŠ \¬ Štwo€girls€became€good€friends.€€On€cross„examination,€Carpenter€stated€that€his€family€did€notŠ H˜ Šrestrict€Esther€in€any€way€during€her€visit.€€She€appeared€to€feel€very€comfortable€living€with€themŠ 4„ Šand€behaved€like€a€š šnormal€teenager.šš€€Occasionally,€she€would€say€that€she€missed€her€parents€andŠ  p Šwanted€to€go€home.€€She€never€indicated€that€she€had€been€abused€at€home€or€that€she€was€fearfulŠ  \ Šof€returning€there.€€On€redirect,€Carpenter€admitted€that€he€had€observed€scars€on€Estherššs€body,€butŠ ųH Špaid€little€attention€to€them€because€they€had€š šalways€been€there.šš€€He€noticed€that€Esther€walkedŠ ä4 Šwith€a€limp,€but€testified€that€she€did€not€appear€clumsy€or€fall€a€lot.€€In€fact,€he€saw€her€fall€onlyŠ Š  Šonce.Š ¼  ŠĢą  ąThe€Carpenter€family€had€plans€to€visit€Israel€on€November€12,€1997.€€Esther€suggested€toŠ ”ä Šthem€that€she€stay€with€her€aunt€and€uncle,€Susan€and€Roger€Combs€(Joseph€Combsšš€brother€andŠ €Š Šsister„in„law)€when€they€left.€€Joseph€Combs€agreed.€€Two€or€three€days€before€the€CarpentersššŠ l¼ Šdeparture€for€Israel,€Douglas€drove€Esther€to€a€Hardeeššs€restaurant€in€Denmark,€South€Carolina.€Š X Ø ŠRoger€Combs€met€him€there€and€then€drove€Esther€to€stay€with€his€family€at€their€home€in€Georgia.€Š D!” ŠThereafter,€the€Carpenter€familyššs€contact€with€Esther€was€limited.Š 0"€  ŠĢą  ąSusan€Combs€testified€that€Esther€appeared€very€nervous€and€withdrawn,€small€and€š šfrail„Š $X" Šlooking,šš€when€she€arrived€at€their€home€in€Georgia.€€Esther€also€cried€a€lot,€jumped€when€touched,Š ō$D # Šand€avoided€most€attempts€to€make€eye€contact.€€She€possessed€only€a€few€š šshabby,šš€long„sleevedŠ ą%0!$ Šdresses€and€a€cell€phone.€€She€could€print,€albeit€poorly,€but€was€unable€to€write€cursive„style€or€spellŠ Ģ&"% Šwell.€€She€was€also€unable€to€make€change€with€money€or€drive€a€car,€and€she€did€not€have€a€SocialŠ ø'#& ŠSecurity€card€or€driverššs€license.€€She€had€never€heard€of€Elvis€Presley.€€At€first,€she€also€refused€toŠ ¤(ō#' Šgo€outside€the€house€alone.€€Every€three€or€four€days,€she€talked€with€one€of€her€parents€on€theŠ )ą$( Štelephone.€€After€these€conversations,€she€usually€appeared€upset.Š |*Ģ%) ŠŠ h+ø&* Šą  ąSusan€noticed€changes€in€Estherššs€physical€appearance€and€demeanor€after€she€stayed€withŠ ° Šthem€for€a€while.€€She€had€gained€weight€and€changed€her€attire,€e.g.,€she€started€wearing€jeans€andŠ œģ Šother€styles€of€pants.€€She€also€established€eye€contact€when€she€communicated€with€people,€seemedŠ ˆŲ Šgenerally€happier,€and€laughed€frequently.€€Although€she€was€reluctant€to€walk€past€the€edge€of€theŠ tÄ Šyard€by€herself€for€quite€a€while,€they€continuously€encouraged€her€to€try€and€she€eventually€did€so.€Š `° Š€Ģą  ąEsther€telephoned€Detective€McCauley€on€February€20,€1998€from€Watkinsville,€Georgia,Š 8 ˆ Šwhile€she€was€living€with€Roger€and€Susan€Combs.€€McCauley€drove€to€Georgia,€interviewed€Esther,Š $ t Šand€took€a€statement.€€From€there,€McCauley€went€to€the€Baptist€Childrenššs€Home€in€Indiana,€whereŠ  ` Šshe€subsequently€discovered€that€the€Defendants€had€never€legally€adopted€Esther.€€Estherššs€naturalŠ ü L  Šmother€was€Rachel€Garcia,€a€woman€who€lived€in€Michigan,€north€of€Detroit.€€McCauley€contactedŠ č 8  ŠMs.€Garcia,€who€then€agreed€to€a€blood€test€which€conclusively€proved€that€she€was€Estherššs€naturalŠ Ō$  Šmother.€Š Ą  ŠĢą  ąDawn€Rose€Loftis,€office€manager€of€the€Baptist€Childrenššs€Home€in€Valparaiso,€Indiana,€Š ˜č  Štestified€that€the€home€functioned€as€both€an€adoption€agency€and€a€group€home€facility€in€1977€(theŠ „Ō  Šyear€of€Estherššs€birth).€€At€trial,€Loftis€identified€the€adoption€agreement€for€š šbaby€Garciašš€(Esther),Š pĄ Šdated€March€1,€1978€and€signed€by€Joseph€and€Evangeline€Combs,€in€which€the€parties€agreed€toŠ \¬ Šadopt€the€baby€girl€within€six€months€and€also€pay€a€fee€to€defray€the€homeššs€expenses.€€LoftisŠ H˜ Štestified€that€the€infant€Garcia€was€given€to€the€Combs€before€the€adoption€was€finalized.€€OnŠ 4„ ŠSeptember€10,€1980,€the€home€sent€a€letter€to€the€Combs,€at€their€Indiana€address,€requesting€thatŠ  p Šthey€send€a€copy€of€the€final€decree€of€adoption.€€The€letter€was€not€returned,€and€no€reply€wasŠ  \ Šforthcoming.€€The€home€sent€a€second€letter€of€request€on€January€9,€1984.€€Again,€the€letter€was€notŠ ųH Šreturned€and€no€reply€was€received.€€More€than€ten€years€later,€on€March€11,€1994,€a€third€letter€wasŠ ä4 Šsent.€€The€letter€was€returned€and€stamped:€š šForwarding€Order€Expired.šš€€As€of€the€date€of€trial,€theŠ Š  Šfile€on€baby€Garcia€reflects€that€the€home€did€not€receive€a€final€decree€of€adoption€or€any€otherŠ ¼  Šcommunication€from€the€Combs€after€November€8,€1979.Š Øų ŠĢą  ąOn€March€6,€1998,€Detective€McCauley€brought€Esther€back€to€Dr.€Stiefel€for€reexamination.€Š €Š ŠApproximately€one€year€had€transpired€since€the€hospital€incident€and€Estherššs€last€examination.€Š l¼ ŠDr.€Stiefel€noted€that€Esther€had€gained€a€significant€amount€of€weight€(approximately€24€pounds)Š X Ø Šand€appeared€š šhealthy,€rosy.šš€€€She€made€eye€contact€during€conversation€and€the€condition€of€herŠ D!” Šteeth€had€greatly€improved.€€Esther€was€then„currently€experiencing€€nightmares€and€pain€in€variousŠ 0"€  Šparts€of€her€body,€however.€€During€the€appointment,€she€also€admitted€that€she€had€sufferedŠ #l! Šrepetitive€beatings€with€baseball€bats€and€electric€cords€and€that€she€had€ingested€antifreeze€the€yearŠ $X" Šbefore,€in€an€attempt€to€commit€suicide€because€she€saw€š šno€escape.šš€€Dr.€Stiefelššs€reexaminationŠ ō$D # Šrevealed€no€new€or€additional€scarring€on€Estherššs€body.€€Š ą%0!$ ŠĢą  ąDuring€cross„examination€at€trial,€Dr.€Stiefel€testified€that€Estherššs€March€1998€appointmentŠ ø'#& Šwas€set€up€by€Detective€Debbie€Richmond„McCauley,€who€informed€her€that€Esther€was€then€š šinŠ ¤(ō#' Šhidingšš€at€the€behest€of€protective€services.€€Dr.€Stiefel€acknowledged€that€the€February€1997Š )ą$( Šhospitalization€discharge€summary€stated€that€Esther€had€š šfirmly€denied€any€type€of€physical€abuseŠ |*Ģ%) Šin€either€the€past€or€the€presentšš€and€that€she€had€also€refused€to€take€advantage€of€any€form€ofŠ h+ø&* Šprotective€services.€€Dr.€Steifel€also€testified€that€Estherššs€family€was€not€present€on€every€occasionŠ ° Šthat€Esther€denied€suffering€abuse.€€However,€Dr.€Stiefel€remarked€that€Esther€appeared€š šextremelyŠ œģ Šnervousšš€during€their€discussions€concerning€protective€service€options.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąThe€victim€in€this€case,€Esther€Combs,€testified€at€trial€that€she€had€recently€changed€theŠ `° Šname€on€her€birth€certificate€to€Elsa€Rachel€Garcia.€€(Notwithstanding€the€name€change,€in€thisŠ L œ Šopinion€we€shall€refer€to€her€by€the€name€she€was€called€when€the€offenses€in€this€case€wereŠ 8 ˆ Šcommitted.)€€At€the€time€of€trial,€Esther€was€twenty„two€years€old€(date€of€birth:€November€16,Š $ t Š1977).€€She€had€five€š šsiblingsšš€while€a€member€of€the€Combs€family:€James€was€the€oldest;€EstherŠ  ` Šcame€next;€the€third€oldest€was€David;€then€came€Cindy,€Peter,€and€Sarah,€in€that€order€of€age.€Š ü L  ŠEsther€testified€that€both€Joseph€and€Evangeline€had€informed€her€that€she€was€adopted€by€theŠ č 8  ŠCombses€at€the€age€of€four„and„one„half€months.€€Joseph€told€her€that€her€mother€was€Hispanic€andŠ Ō$  Šher€father€was€Caucasian.€€Š Ą  ŠĢą  ąEstherššs€first€memories€as€a€child€took€place€when€the€Combs€family€lived€in€Merryville,Š ˜č  ŠIndiana.€€At€that€time,€Joseph€Combs€taught€at€a€Bible€college€for€novice€pastors.€€The€Combs€movedŠ „Ō  Šfrom€Indiana€to€Florida€sometime€in€1986,€when€Esther€was€six€or€seven€years€old.€€Joseph€workedŠ pĄ Šas€a€pastor€in€Florida€for€a€few€years.€€Thereafter,€they€traveled€to€various€states,€evangelizing€on€theŠ \¬ Šroad€and€living€in€a€trailer€for€approximately€one€and€one„half€years.€€In€April€1989,€the€familyŠ H˜ Šsettled€down€in€Bristol,€Tennessee,€where€Joseph€became€the€pastor€of€EBC.€€They€lived€in€the€trailerŠ 4„ Šfor€a€few€more€months,€then€transferred€their€residence€to€a€yellow€building€on€the€church€premises,Š  p Šwhich€also€housed€the€church€gymnasium€and€fellowship€hall.Š  \ ŠĢą  ąDuring€Estherššs€testimony,€the€State€informed€the€trial€court€that€it€was€preparing€to€ask€someŠ ä4 Šquestions€which€concerned€only€Defendant€Evangeline€Combs.€€A€hearing€ensued€outside€of€theŠ Š  Špresence€of€the€jury.€€Thereafter,€the€trial€court€instructed€the€jury,€prior€to€the€victimššs€testimony,Š ¼  Šthat€it€should€consider€the€upcoming€evidence€only€as€to€the€guilt€of€Defendant€Evangeline€untilŠ Øų Šdirected€to€do€otherwise.€€The€jury€was€also€told€to€consider€the€evidence€of€other€crimes€presentedŠ ”ä Šat€trial€for€the€limited€purpose€of€constructing€š šthe€complete€storyšš€of€the€crime€of€especiallyŠ €Š Šaggravated€kidnapping,€and€not€as€proof€of€either€Defendantššs€disposition€to€commit€a€similar€crime.€Š l¼ ŠAs€to€the€other€counts,€the€jury€was€to€consider€the€evidence€in€determining€only€whether€EvangelineŠ X Ø Špossessed€š šguilty€knowledge.ššŠ D!” ŠĢą  ąFollowing€the€trial€courtššs€limiting€instruction,€Esther€began€with€testimony€concerning€theŠ #l! Šwounds€and€abuse€inflicted€upon€her€by€Evangeline€while€the€family€lived€in€Indiana.€€EstherŠ $X" Šidentified€a€photograph€of€herself€with€large€bandages€covering€both€of€her€hands€and€arms€up€to€theŠ ō$D # Šelbows.€€According€to€Esther,€the€underlying€injuries€were€burns€caused€by€hot€oatmeal.€€EvangelineŠ ą%0!$ Šhad€taken€the€other€children€to€wash€their€hands€and€instructed€Esther€not€to€touch€the€stove€whileŠ Ģ&"% Šshe€was€gone.€€Esther€nevertheless€stirred€the€oatmeal€in€an€effort€to€help,€but€she€dropped€the€spoonŠ ø'#& Šinto€the€pot€in€the€process.€€When€Evangeline€discovered€the€spoon€had€fallen€into€the€oatmeal,€sheŠ ¤(ō#' Šforced€Estherššs€hands€into€the€hot€food€until€she€retrieved€it.€€Her€hands€and€arms€were€burnt€as€aŠ )ą$( Šresult,€and€the€wounds€were€very€painful.€€Evangeline€bandaged€them€herself.€€Esther€did€not€receiveŠ |*Ģ%) Šmedical€treatment.€€Another€time,€Evangeline€pushed€Esther€because€she€was€not€climbing€the€stairsŠ h+ø&* Šfast€enough.€€Esther€tripped€and€hit€her€chin,€which€left€a€scar.€€Esther€testified€that€the€scar€on€herŠ ° Šright€hand€was€caused€when€Evangeline€opened€a€pair€of€scissors€and€used€one€of€the€blades€to€cutŠ œģ Šher.€€An€additional€scar€on€her€hand€was€caused€when€Evangeline€held€Estherššs€hand€on€a€red„hotŠ ˆŲ Šstove€burner€for€an€extended€period€of€time.€€The€various€marks€on€her€chest€and€another€on€her€leftŠ tÄ Šarm€resulted€from€those€occasions€when€Evangeline€would€twist€and€pull€Estherššs€skin€with€a€pairŠ `° Šof€needle„nosed€pliers€until€a€chunk€of€flesh€came€off.€€Esther€further€testified€that€her€front€teethŠ L œ Šwere€in€poor€condition€because€they€were€previously€knocked€out€of€her€head.€€This€took€place€afterŠ 8 ˆ Šone€of€the€other€children€had€š šturned€her€inšš€for€jumping€on€the€bed.€€To€teach€Esther€not€to€do€thisŠ $ t Šagain,€Evangeline€picked€her€up€by€her€arm€and€leg,€swung€her€around,€and€threw€her€into€the€wall.€Š  ` ŠShe€hit€the€wall€with€her€face,€and€four€front€teeth€fell€out.€€She€was€not€taken€to€a€dentist.€€Instead,Š ü L  ŠEvangeline€pushed€the€teeth€back€into€Estherššs€head.€€After€a€while,€they€reattached.€€As€anŠ č 8  Šadditional€form€of€punishment,€Esther€was€occasionally€forced€to€sleep€naked€in€the€basement€ofŠ Ō$  Štheir€Indiana€home.€€It€was€uncomfortable€and€very€cold€in€the€winter.€€One€of€Estherššs€earliest€Š Ą  Šmemories€was€of€a€time€when€Evangeline€tied€her€to€a€high€chair€and€threw€her€down€the€stairs.€€SheŠ ¬ü  Šrecalled€tumbling€down€two€flights€of€stairs€and€landing€in€the€basement.€€Evangeline€left€her€there.€Š ˜č  ŠNo€scars€resulted€from€this€event,€but€Esther€recalled€being€š šbanged€up,€black€and€bluešš€for€a€while.€Š „Ō  ŠĢą  ąNext,€Esther€testified€as€to€the€treatment€she€received€from€Evangeline€Combs€while€theŠ \¬ ŠCombs€family€lived€in€Clearwater,€Florida.€€Esther€first€pointed€to€the€photograph€of€a€scar€on€herŠ H˜ Šmiddle€finger.€€According€to€Esther,€this€scar€was€produced€when€Evangeline€placed€her€hand€on€theŠ 4„ Šcounter€and€then€hammered€this€finger€until€it€š šbusted€open.šš€€Another€time,€Esther€was€whippedŠ  p Šwith€a€rope€because€the€baby€sitter€had€taught€her€how€to€write€her€name.€€On€yet€another€occasion,Š  \ ŠEvangeline€whipped€the€bottom€of€Estherššs€feet€with€an€electrical€cord€because€she€believed€EstherŠ ųH Šhad€been€kicking€the€curtains.€€Other€punishments€inflicted€upon€her€while€in€Florida€included€denialŠ ä4 Šof€food€and€additional€instances€of€skin€removal€with€the€needle„nosed€pliers.€€Š Š  ŠĢą  ąRegarding€the€abuse€Esther€suffered€while€the€Combs€family€traveled€from€state€to€state€inŠ Øų Šthe€trailer€home,€Esther€testified€first€that€Evangeline€burned€her€legs€because€the€baby,€SarahŠ ”ä ŠCombs,€had€a€diaper€rash.€€Because€it€was€Estherššs€job€to€change€Sarahššs€diapers,€Evangeline€viewedŠ €Š ŠSarahššs€rash€as€proof€of€Estherššs€negligence.€€Wanting€to€demonstrate€to€Esther€how€a€diaper€rashŠ l¼ Šfelt,€Evangeline€burnt€the€inside€of€both€of€her€thighs€with€a€curling€iron.€€The€wounds€were€veryŠ X Ø Špainful,€and€it€was€difficult€for€Esther€to€walk€afterward.€€Evangeline€also€beat€the€inside€of€EstherššsŠ D!” Šthighs€with€a€shower€brush€to€make€boils.€€First,€she€would€use€water€to€wet€the€brush€and€the€insideŠ 0"€  Šof€Estherššs€thighs.€€Next€she€beat€the€skin€until€it€made€boils,€and€then€beat€the€boils€until€they€brokeŠ #l! Šopen€and€started€bleeding.€€Š $X" ŠĢą  ąNext,€Esther€testified€about€the€wounds€and€abuse€Evangeline€inflicted€upon€Esther€whileŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€family€lived€in€Tennessee.€€She€claimed€that€one€of€her€arm€scars€resulted€from€an€incidentŠ Ģ&"% Šoccurring€on€Jimmy€Combsšš€birthday.€€Evangeline€was€angry€because€the€kitchen€was€not€clean,€soŠ ø'#& Šshe€threw€a€spice€bottle€through€the€window€and€it€broke.€€Evangeline€instructed€Esther€to€clean€itŠ ¤(ō#' Šup,€and€Esther€thought€she€complied,€but€she€had€missed€one€rather€large€piece€of€glass.€€To€showŠ )ą$( ŠEsther€what€might€have€happened€if€one€of€the€younger€children€had€happened€upon€it,€EvangelineŠ |*Ģ%) Štook€Estherššs€arm€and€cut€it€open€with€the€piece€of€glass.€€The€bleeding€was€heavy.€€To€stop€it,Š h+ø&* ŠEvangeline€ran€Estherššs€arm€under€water.€€When€this€did€not€stop€the€bleeding,€she€stuffed€paperŠ ° Štowels€into€the€wound€and€wrapped€bandages€around€it.€€One€day,€after€the€injured€area€began€toŠ œģ Šheal,€Evangeline€flew€into€a€rage€for€some€reason,€grabbed€Estherššs€arm,€and€š štorešš€the€wound€openŠ ˆŲ Šagain.€€The€bleeding€was€profuse.€€Esther€received€no€medical€treatment€for€either€injury.Š tÄ ŠĢą  ąAnother€Tennessee€incident€occurred€shortly€after€Jimmy€Combsšš€birthday.€€Esther€wasŠ L œ Šcaught€looking€at€a€watch€that€Jimmy€had€received€as€a€present.€€To€teach€her€that€she€must€neverŠ 8 ˆ Štouch€another€personššs€property,€Evangeline€burned€Estherššs€arm€in€two€places€with€a€curling€iron.€Š $ t ŠOn€a€different€occasion,€Evangeline€beat€Esther€š šall€day€longšš€with€a€water€hose€for€falling€asleepŠ  ` Šin€church,€and€then€shook€Esther€by€her€hair€until€it€began€to€fall€out.€€A€photograph€which€revealedŠ ü L  Šnumerous€scars€on€Estherššs€buttocks€was€presented€in€court.€€Esther€testified€that€one€of€the€scarsŠ č 8  Šwas€caused€when€Evangeline€burned€her€with€the€top€of€an€iron€because€she€allowed€the€spaghettiŠ Ō$  Što€burn.€€A€scar€on€her€shoulder€resulted€from€being€struck€by€Evangeline€with€a€claw€hammer,€andŠ Ą  Šadditional€scars€around€her€mouth€and€chin€were€the€result€of€being€whipped€in€that€area€or€havingŠ ¬ü  Šobjects€thrown€at€her€by€Evangeline.€€Esther€claimed€that€Evangeline€gave€her€numerous€black€eyesŠ ˜č  Šduring€their€stay€in€Tennessee€and€generally€whipped€her€at€least€once€per€day€with€a€coiled€metalŠ „Ō  Šcord.€€When€the€black€eyes€were€severe,€the€Combses€did€not€allow€her€to€attend€church.Š pĄ ŠĢą  ąWhen€the€Stateššs€evidence€regarding€Defendant€Evangeline€Combs€had€been€concluded,€theŠ H˜ Štrial€court€reemphasized€that€the€evidence€must€be€considered€as€to€her€guilt€alone.€€The€court€thenŠ 4„ Šgave€the€jury€limiting€instructions,€similar€to€the€instructions€previously€given€for€Evangeline,€whichŠ  p Šconcerned€the€upcoming€proof€of€š šother€crimesšš€allegedly€committed€by€Joseph€Combs.€€Š  \ ŠĢą  ąEsther€began€by€testifying€that,€while€the€family€lived€in€Florida,€Joseph€š šbeltedšš€her€afterŠ ä4 Šdiscovering€that€the€babysitter€had€taught€her€how€to€write€her€name.€€Joseph€informed€her€thatŠ Š  Šš šJesus€didnššt€learn€to€read€or€write€until€he€was€12,€and€that€[she]€wasnššt€going€to€either.šš€€OnŠ ¼  Šanother€day,€while€the€family€was€living€in€the€trailer,€Joseph€laid€her€on€her€back€and€whipped€herŠ Øų Šstomach€with€a€type€of€š šflip„flopšš€sandal€because€š šhe€heard€something€about€a€pink€belly.šš€€He€didŠ ”ä Šnot€stop€until€Esther€could€remain€perfectly€still€without€crying.€€In€Tennessee,€Joseph€beat€her€withŠ €Š Ša€water€hose€for€falling€asleep€during€church€services.€€He€made€her€take€off€her€clothes€first,€toŠ l¼ Šmake€sure€that€š šhe€did€not€miss€any€inch€of€[her]€skin.šš€€Esther€claimed€that,€later€that€afternoon,€heŠ X Ø Šalso€beat€her€with€a€belt€but€she€did€not€recall€the€reason€for€it.€€Esther€next€identified€a€photographŠ D!” Šof€a€hole€in€the€wall€of€Josephššs€office.€€She€claimed€that€the€hole€was€created€by€her€head,€whenŠ 0"€  ŠJoseph€repeatedly€banged€it€into€the€wall.€€Another€time,€Joseph€became€angry€because€the€groceryŠ #l! Šstore€was€closing€and€Esther€had€not€yet€completed€a€list€of€what€the€family€needed.€€He€kneed€herŠ $X" Šin€the€stomach€and€knocked€the€wind€out€of€her.€€As€she€bent€over,€he€went€to€knee€her€in€theŠ ō$D # Šstomach€a€second€time€but€missed.€€He€caught€her€in€the€eye€instead.€€She€fell€backward.€€Her€eyeŠ ą%0!$ Šbecame€black€and€blue€and€swelled€shut.€€She€wore€a€patch€for€a€long€time,€but€did€not€receiveŠ Ģ&"% Šmedical€treatment.€€At€the€conclusion€of€Estherššs€testimony€concerning€Joseph€Combs,€the€trial€courtŠ ø'#& Šrepeated€for€the€jury€the€limiting€instructions€previously€given€them.€€Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢą  ąEsther€also€testified€as€to€what€specific€facts€gave€rise€to€the€individual€counts€in€theŠ |*Ģ%) Špresentment€against€Joseph€and€Evangeline€Combs.€€Concerning€count€2,€charging€both€DefendantsŠ h+ø&* Šwith€committing€aggravated€assault€between€June€1,€1996€and€September€1,€1996,€Esther€stated€thatŠ ° Šthe€incident€occurred€because€Esther€had€not€finished€her€chores.€€Earlier€in€the€day,€the€CombsŠ œģ Šfamily€was€barbecuing€outside€because€it€was€summertime.€€Then€it€began€to€rain.€€They€brought€theŠ ˆŲ Šgrill€inside,€but€Esther€had€not€finished€cleaning€the€dishes€or€the€laundry.€€As€punishment,€JosephŠ tÄ Štook€her€into€the€gymnasium€and€beat€her€with€a€rope.€€Esther€was€screaming,€but€Joseph€told€herŠ `° Šhe€would€not€stop€beating€her€until€she€stopped€screaming.€€She€did€not€stop.€€Consequently,€heŠ L œ Šwrapped€the€rope€around€her€neck€and€draped€her€over€his€back.€€She€recalled€that€her€feet€lifted€offŠ 8 ˆ Šof€the€floor.€€Evangeline€watched€the€episode.€€Eventually,€Esther€passed€out.€€She€woke€up€later€onŠ $ t Šthe€floor.€Š  ` ŠĢą  ąCounts€7€through€10€charged€Evangeline€Combs€alone€with€committing€separate€offensesŠ č 8  Šof€aggravated€child€abuse.€€The€incident€giving€rise€to€count€7€occurred€in€February€1994.€€EstherŠ Ō$  Šrecalled€that€the€other€children€were€making€Valentine€cards.€€Evangeline€became€angry€for€someŠ Ą  Šreason€and€took€Esther€to€the€gymnasium€to€š šbeatšš€her.€€She€began€by€beating€Estherššs€backside€withŠ ¬ü  Ša€baseball€bat,€but€Esther€turned€her€body€and€the€bat€hit€her€elbow.€€Esther€claimed€that€it€was€veryŠ ˜č  Špainful€and€her€elbow€swelled€up,€but€she€received€no€medical€attention.€€Instead,€her€arm€was€placedŠ „Ō  Šin€a€sling€for€what€seemed€to€Esther€like€months.€€When€church€members€asked€questions€aboutŠ pĄ ŠEstherššs€arm,€Evangeline€told€them€that€she€sprained€her€elbow€when€she€swung€two€gallons€of€milk.€Š \¬ ŠEsther€testified€that€she€was€unable€to€straighten€her€arm€afterward.Š H˜ ŠĢą  ąCount€8€stemmed€from€an€offense€which€was€alleged€to€have€occurred€in€November€1994.€Š  p ŠEsther€recalled€that€it€took€place€near€Thanksgiving€Day.€€She€was€cleaning€out€the€refrigerator€toŠ  \ Šcreate€room€for€the€holiday€fare.€€To€prevent€Esther€from€disposing€of€any€edible€foodstuffs,Š ųH ŠEvangeline€wanted€to€check€the€spoiled€food€before€Esther€threw€it€away.€€Quite€a€bit€of€food€hadŠ ä4 Šgone€bad.€€After€a€while,€Evangeline€appeared€to€find€the€parade€of€rotten€food€tiresome.€€She€threwŠ Š  Ša€wooden€shoe€at€Esther,€hitting€her€above€the€eye.€€The€wound€bled€profusely.€€Evangeline€tried€toŠ ¼  Šstop€the€bleeding€because€the€wound€was€š šright€on€[her]€face€where€people€could€see€[her]€atŠ Øų Šchurch.šš€€She€knew€Joseph€would€be€upset€by€this.€€Unable€to€check€the€bleeding,€Evangeline€gotŠ ”ä Ša€sewing€needle€and€began€to€stitch€the€wound€closed.€€Esther€was€in€great€pain€and€would€not€stopŠ €Š Šwiggling€around,€so€Evangeline€sat€on€her€while€stitching€the€skin€together.€€Again,€Esther€receivedŠ l¼ Šno€medical€attention.€€Upon€discovering€the€injury,€Joseph€restricted€her€from€attending€church€untilŠ X Ø Šthe€wound€healed.€€Later,€Evangeline€removed€the€stitches€and€Esther€wore€a€hairstyle€with€bangsŠ D!” Što€cover€the€forehead€scar.Š 0"€  ŠĢą  ąThe€incident€underlying€count€9€was€alleged€to€have€occurred€in€September€1994.€€EstherŠ $X" Štestified€that€Evangeline€was€using€needle€nose€pliers€to€construct€a€Christmas€plaque€that€day.€€SheŠ ō$D # Šcalled€for€Esther.€€When€Esther€arrived,€Evangeline€grabbed€the€skin€on€Estherššs€€hip€with€a€pair€ofŠ ą%0!$ Šneedle€nose€pliers.€€She€then€pulled€and€twisted€Estherššs€skin€until€a€chunk€came€off.€€EvangelineŠ Ģ&"% Šcalled€such€wounds€š šmarks€of€the€beast.šš€€Esther€was€unable€to€recall€anything€she€had€done€toŠ ø'#& Šdeserve€punishment€on€that€occasion.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢą  ąThe€offense€in€count€10€allegedly€occurred€on€a€day€between€September€1995€and€NovemberŠ |*Ģ%) Š1995.€€Esther€testified€that€she€had€a€considerable€amount€of€work€to€do€that€day€and€she€was€runningŠ h+ø&* Šbehind€schedule.€€Evangeline€asked€Esther€whether€she€had€completed€cleaning€the€kitchen.€€EstherŠ ° Štold€her€š šyes,šš€which€was€untrue.€€She€had€planned€to€finish€cleaning€the€kitchen€at€a€later€time,€butŠ œģ ŠEvangeline€checked€before€she€had€a€chance€to€do€so.€€As€punishment€for€lying,€Evangeline€madeŠ ˆŲ ŠEsther€drape€her€body€over€the€kitchen€window€ledge€and€beat€her€with€a€baseball€bat.€€Estherššs€bodyŠ tÄ Škept€slipping€from€the€window,€however.€€Evangeline€recruited€Jimmy€and€David€Combs€to€holdŠ `° ŠEsther€in€place.€€The€boys€held€her€by€the€feet€and€hands€while€Evangeline€beat€her€with€the€bat.€Š L œ ŠEsther€claimed€that€the€beating€broke€her€tailbone,€and€she€could€barely€walk.€€Joseph€Combs€gaveŠ 8 ˆ ŠEsther€four€Tylenol€and€four€ibuprofen€for€the€pain,€and€some€vitamin€E€to€speed€healing.€€SheŠ $ t Šreceived€no€medical€attention.Š  ` ŠĢą  ąCount€11€alleged€that€Joseph€Combs€committed€aggravated€perjury€on€or€about€October€€3,Š č 8  Š1997.€€Esther€testified€that€she€was€aware€Detective€Debbie€Richmond„McCauley€had€filed€a€lawsuit,Š Ō$  Šbecause€she€was€present€when€the€police€officer€delivered€Joseph€the€subpoena.€€Evangeline€CombsŠ Ą  Šthought€the€officerššs€knock€on€the€door€was€a€UPS€delivery.€€Esther€did€not€open€the€door,€but€sheŠ ¬ü  Šcould€see€that€the€caller€was€a€police€officer,€so€Joseph€answered€the€door€instead.€€Esther€heardŠ ˜č  ŠJoseph€say,€š šSheššs€not€here€right€now,€but€Iššll€give€it€to€her.šš€€When€the€officer€left,€Joseph€toldŠ „Ō  ŠEsther€that€the€subpoena€required€Esther€to€show€up€in€court€because€Detective€McCauley€wantedŠ pĄ Šher€to€have€a€š šlegal€babysitteršš€to€manage€her€money€and€other€needs.€€He€said,€š šI€donššt€think€youŠ \¬ Šneed€that,€do€you?šš€€Esther€replied,€š šNo,šš€because€she€did€not€understand€what€was€going€on.€Š H˜ ŠJoseph€told€her€not€to€worry€about€it,€because€she€would€be€in€another€county€when€the€court€dateŠ 4„ Šarrived€and€he€would€report€to€the€court€that€she€had€run€away.€€On€the€court€date,€Esther€was€atŠ  p ŠSonja€Meadowsšš€house.€€Later,€Joseph€š šwas€laughing€at€how€he€had€made€a€fool€out€of€Ms.Š  \ Š[McCauley]€and€the€judge€by€saying€that€[Esther]€had€run€away.šš€€From€Sonja€Meadowsšš€house,Š ųH ŠEsther€went€to€South€Carolina€because€Joseph€thought€š šthings€were€getting€a€little€too€hot.šš€€Later,Š ä4 Šshe€stayed€with€Roger€and€Susan€Combs€in€Georgia.Š Š  ŠĢą  ąCount€12€charged€Joseph€Combs€with€committing€aggravated€rape€in€April€1989€(Esther€wasŠ Øų Šunder€thirteen€years€of€age€at€this€time).€€Esther€testified€that€Joseph€made€her€perform€oral€sex€onŠ ”ä Šhim€on€a€day€near€Peter€Combššs€birthday,€April€25th.€€The€Combs€family€had€since€settled€in€Bristol,Š €Š ŠTennessee,€but€was€still€living€in€the€trailer€at€that€time.€€Esther€claimed€that€Joseph€called€her€intoŠ l¼ Šthe€bedroom€of€the€trailer,€closed€the€door,€sat€down€on€the€bed€and€exposed€his€penis.€€He€thenŠ X Ø Šplaced€Estherššs€hand€upon€it€and€told€her€that€š šhe€knew€[she]€wanted€it.šš€€He€made€her€put€her€headŠ D!” Šdown€and€placed€his€penis€into€her€mouth.€€She€testified€that€when€Joseph€was€angry€with€her,€heŠ 0"€  Šmade€her€swallow€his€ejaculate.€€He€called€it€š šsugar€water.ššŠ #l! ŠĢą  ąCounts€13€through€19€charged€Joseph€Combs€with€the€rape€of€Esther€Combs.€€Count€13Š ō$D # Šconcerns€an€incident€that€occurred€on€November€16,€1990,€Estherššs€thirteenth€birthday.€€AccordingŠ ą%0!$ Što€Esther,€Joseph€informed€her€that€he€wanted€some€coffee€that€day.€€She€made€the€coffee€andŠ Ģ&"% Šbrought€him€a€cup.€€He€was€sitting€in€a€chair€in€the€foyer€at€the€time.€€He€told€her€that€he€wanted€toŠ ø'#& Šgive€her€a€birthday€present€and€closed€the€doors€to€the€foyer.€€Esther€was€then€directed€to€get€downŠ ¤(ō#' Šon€her€knees€and€perform€oral€sex€on€him.€€Joseph€instructed€her€š šhow€hard€and€how€fast€to€pumpŠ )ą$( Šitšš€until€he€š šdid€it€in€her€mouth.šš€€She€was€not€allowed€to€wash€her€mouth€out€afterward.Š |*Ģ%) ŠŠ h+ø&* Šą  ąCount€14€charged€Joseph€Combs€with€the€rape€of€Esther€during€the€summer€of€1995.€€EstherŠ ° Štestified€that€the€kids€were€playing€outside€on€the€day€he€committed€this€particular€offense.€Š œģ ŠEvangeline€Combs€was€also€outside€and€Joseph€was€inside,€standing€by€the€door€watching€everyone.€Š ˆŲ ŠJoseph€called€Esther€inside€to€perform€oral€sex€on€him.€€Esther€responded€that€she€could€not€becauseŠ tÄ Šthe€Bible€said€that€it€was€wrong.€€Joseph€told€her€that€š šit€was€okay€with€God€because€[she]€was€hisŠ `° Šadopted€daughter,€[not]€his€biological€daughter.€€And€that€King€David€had€concubines.šš€€He€thenŠ L œ Šplaced€his€penis€into€her€mouth€and€made€her€š šdo€it€until€he€went.šš€€This€time,€she€was€allowed€toŠ 8 ˆ Šwash€her€mouth€out€afterward.Š $ t ŠĢą  ąCount€15€alleged€that€Joseph€Combs€committed€the€crime€of€rape€against€Esther€on€June€16,Š ü L  Š1991.€€The€date€was€Evangeline€Combsšš€birthday.€€Evangeline€had€gone€to€the€park€with€the€otherŠ č 8  Šchildren.€€Esther€remained€behind€because€she€had€not€yet€finished€cleaning€the€kitchen€when€theyŠ Ō$  Šdeparted.€€Joseph€had€been€at€a€meeting,€but€he€came€home€before€the€rest€of€the€family€returnedŠ Ą  Šfrom€the€park.€€He€stood€before€the€kitchen€window,€where€he€would€be€able€to€observe€EvangelineššsŠ ¬ü  Šreturn.€€He€had€Esther€get€underneath€the€counter€to€perform€oral€sex€on€him.€€Joseph€placed€hisŠ ˜č  Špenis€into€her€mouth€until€he€š šwentšš€and€told€her€she€was€š šspecial.šš€€She€was€not€allowed€to€rinseŠ „Ō  Šher€mouth€out.Š pĄ ŠĢą  ąCount€16€charged€Joseph€Combs€with€raping€Esther€on€November€25,€1993.€€It€wasŠ H˜ ŠThanksgiving€Day€and€dinner€was€nearly€ready.€€Evangeline€Combs€was€in€the€kitchen,€yelling,Š 4„ Šbecause€the€dishes€were€not€yet€cleaned.€€She€kept€sending€Esther€to€the€front€of€the€building,€whereŠ  p ŠJoseph€was€sitting€in€the€dark€waiting€for€her,€because€every€five€minutes€she€had€to€be€beaten€forŠ  \ Šone€reason€or€another.€€After€a€while,€he€appeared€to€grow€tired€of€whipping€her.€€€Since€the€familyŠ ųH Šwas€busy€in€the€kitchen€and€he€was€just€sitting€in€the€dark,€he€made€Esther€perform€oral€sex€on€him.€Š ä4 ŠAgain,€he€placed€his€penis€in€her€mouth€and€ejaculated.€€This€time€he€allowed€her€to€wipe€her€mouthŠ Š  Šwith€his€boxer€shorts.Š ¼  ŠĢą  ąCount€17€alleged€that€Joseph€Combs€raped€Esther€on€November€16,€1993.€€It€was€EstherššsŠ ”ä Šsixteenth€birthday.€€Esther€did€not€recall€where€the€rest€of€the€family€had€gone.€€Joseph€was€in€theŠ €Š Šfoyer€and€called€her€to€come€in€because€he€had€something€he€wanted€to€give€her€for€her€birthday.€Š l¼ ŠWhen€she€arrived,€he€closed€the€door€and€opened€his€boxer€shorts.€€(According€to€Esther,€JosephššsŠ X Ø Šš šnormalšš€attire€was€boxer€shorts.)€€She€performed€oral€sex€on€him,€and€he€ejaculated€into€her€mouth,Š D!” Šwhich€she€was€not€allowed€to€wash€out.€€Š 0"€  ŠĢą  ąThe€incident€giving€rise€to€the€rape€charge€in€count€18€occurred€on€February€14,€1991.€€TheŠ $X" Šother€Combs€children€were€in€the€kitchen€making€Valentineššs€Day€cards,€and€Evangeline€Combs€wasŠ ō$D # Šbusy€doing€something€in€the€gymnasium.€€Esther€was€clearing€a€table€when€Joseph€told€her€that€heŠ ą%0!$ Šwanted€some€coffee.€€When€she€brought€it€to€him,€he€closed€the€doors€and€made€her€perform€oralŠ Ģ&"% Šsex,€in€a€fashion€similar€to€the€other€instances.€€Š ø'#& ŠĢą  ąCount€19€alleged€that€Joseph€Combs€committed€another€rape€of€Esther.€€The€incidentŠ )ą$( Šoccurred€on€February€4,€1992.€€Joseph€was€in€his€office€and€had€spilled€a€š šCokešš€under€his€desk.€Š |*Ģ%) ŠHe€instructed€Esther€to€bring€him€another€drink€and€also€clean€up€what€he€had€spilled.€€SheŠ h+ø&* Šclambered€onto€the€floor€underneath€his€desk.€€He€grabbed€her€head€and€made€her€perform€oral€sexŠ ° Šon€him€as€he€sat€in€his€chair.€€Esther€was€still€underneath€the€desk€when€Evangeline€Combs€cameŠ œģ Šinto€the€room.€€Evangeline€demanded€to€know€what€Esther€was€doing€down€there.€€JosephŠ ˆŲ Šš šcomposedšš€himself€and€Esther€resumed€cleaning€the€floor.€€Joseph€was€in€his€boxers,€as€usual,€andŠ tÄ Šshe€was€not€allowed€to€clean€her€mouth€afterward.€€Š `° ŠĢą  ąWith€regard€to€her€life€in€general,€Esther€testified€that€she€had€never€been€allowed€to€visitŠ 8 ˆ Šother€children€or€go€anywhere€or€do€anything€without€Evangeline,€Joseph,€or€one€or€more€of€herŠ $ t Šsiblings€present.€€Moreover,€no€visitors€were€permitted€inside€the€Combs€residence€at€EBC.€€JosephŠ  ` Štold€her€that€this€was€because€their€home€was€š ša€mess.šš€€Esther€recalled€that€various€church€membersŠ ü L  Šhad€come€by€at€different€times€to€deliver€food,€but€they€were€either€met€at€the€door€and€not€allowedŠ č 8  Šin,€or€the€Combs€family€would€not€answer€the€door€at€all€and€the€visitor€would€eventually€leave€theŠ Ō$  Šfood€on€the€doorstep.€€On€the€occasions€that€Esther€was€not€allowed€to€attend€church€services,€sheŠ Ą  Šwas€ordered€to€stay€in€a€small€room€near€the€menššs€bathroom.€€No€one€stood€guard€over€her,€butŠ ¬ü  ŠEvangeline€placed€powder€in€front€of€the€door.€€Footprints€in€the€powder€would€reveal€anyŠ ˜č  Šdisobedience.€€This€area€by€the€bathroom€was€also€where€Esther€slept€the€majority€of€the€time.€€SheŠ „Ō  Šwas€not€permitted€to€sleep€with€the€other€children€because€she€reportedly€š šsnored€really€loudšš€andŠ pĄ Šš šsmelled€bad.šš€€Š \¬ ŠĢą  ąEsther€did€not€have€a€driverššs€license,€a€Social€Security€number,€or€any€other€standard€formŠ 4„ Šof€identification.€€In€addition,€she€was€not€able€to€read€or€write€well.€€The€other€children€participatedŠ  p Šin€home„schooling€sessions,€but€Esther€was€not€allowed€to€join€the€lessons€until€her€chores€wereŠ  \ Šcompleted,€and€this€did€not€happen€often.€€At€home,€Esther€was€responsible€for€the€laundry€and€theŠ ųH Široning,€making€the€beds,€cleaning€the€dishes€and€the€house,€cooking€the€meals,€making€the€groceryŠ ä4 Šlist,€and€whatever€else€needed€to€be€done.€€(Because€she€could€not€read€or€write,€she€prepared€theŠ Š  Šgrocery€list€by€copying€the€letters€from€near„empty€packages€of€food.)€€Esther€claimed€that€herŠ ¼  Šsiblings€had€no€responsibilities€in€the€way€of€chores,€and€Esther€did€not€go€to€bed€until€her€choresŠ Øų Šwere€completed,€normally€between€3:30€and€5:00€a.m.€€The€other€members€of€the€family€usually€Š ”ä Šretired€between€midnight€and€1:00€a.m.,€and€they€arose€anywhere€between€9:00€and€11:00€a.m.€€AtŠ €Š Šwhatever€time€each€member€of€the€Combs€family€got€out€of€bed,€Esther€was€responsible€forŠ l¼ Špreparing€that€personššs€breakfast.€€If€all€seven€of€them€got€up€at€different€times,€she€cooked€sevenŠ X Ø Šseparate€breakfasts.€€Š D!” ŠĢą  ąEsther€testified€that€she€had€been€informed€several€times€by€both€Defendants€over€the€yearsŠ #l! Šthat€her€š špurpose€in€lifešš€was€to€act€as€a€š šservantšš€to€the€Combs€family.€€On€those€occasions€she€didŠ $X" Šnot€perform€this€function€properly,€she€was€punished.€€The€š šnormal€positionšš€she€assumed€whenŠ ō$D # Šeither€Defendant€beat€or€whipped€her€required€her€to€take€off€all€of€her€clothes,€place€her€hands€onŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€back€of€a€chair,€and€bend€over.€Š Ģ&"% ŠĢą  ąEsther€testified€that€on€February€17,€1997,€the€day€prior€to€her€hospitalization€at€the€MedicalŠ ¤(ō#' ŠCenter,€she€did€not€make€the€coffee€š šright.šš€€When€this€occurred,€the€coffee€was€thrown€in€her€faceŠ )ą$( Šand€she€was€beaten.€€This€particular€day€was€no€different.€€Esther€decided€she€š šcouldnššt€take€itŠ |*Ģ%) Šanymorešš€and€š šwanted€to€die.šš€€In€the€early€hours€of€February€18,€1997,€she€filled€a€24„ounceŠ h+ø&* Šstyrofoam€cup€with€antifreeze,€drank€it,€brushed€her€teeth,€and€then€went€to€bed.€€When€she€awoke,Š ° Šshe€was€in€a€bed€at€the€Medical€Center.€€When€the€prosecutor€asked€Esther€why€she€failed€to€reportŠ œģ Šthe€many€incidents€of€abuse€to€any€medical€personnel€or€the€police€officers€she€had€encounteredŠ ˆŲ Šduring€her€stay€at€the€hospital,€Esther€replied€that€she€was€š šscared.šš€€She€had€previously€run€awayŠ tÄ Štwice,€but€she€was€returned€to€the€Combs€both€times€and€severely€punished€afterward.€€(Esther€wasŠ `° Šunable€to€recall€the€dates€that€she€ran€away.)€€Consequently,€Esther€believed€the€same€thing€wouldŠ L œ Šhappen€again.€€Esther€testified€that€there€was€no€one€outside€of€the€Combsšš€household€to€whom€sheŠ 8 ˆ Šcould€turn€for€help.€€She€recalled€someone€mentioning€š šprotective€custodyšš€while€she€was€in€theŠ $ t Šhospital,€but€she€did€not€comprehend€what€that€meant.€€Approximately€one€year€later,€while€livingŠ  ` Šin€Georgia€with€her€aunt€and€uncle,€Susan€and€Roger€Combs,€Esther€decided€to€telephone€DetectiveŠ ü L  ŠMcCauley€and€report€what€the€Defendants€had€done€to€her.Š č 8  ŠĢą  ąEstherššs€first€runaway€experience€involved€Officer€Vic€Jordan,€with€the€Bristol,€VirginiaŠ Ą  ŠPolice€Department.€€Officer€Jordan€testified€that€on€November€5,€1992,€he€was€summoned€to€anŠ ¬ü  Šš šAbcošš€store€because€a€female€had€reportedly€locked€herself€in€the€bathroom€and€refused€to€comeŠ ˜č  Šout.€€Officer€Jordan€arrived€at€the€scene€and€beat€on€the€door.€€Someone€inside€the€bathroomŠ „Ō  Šunlocked€it.€€When€Jordan€entered,€he€observed€a€young€female€standing€in€the€corner,€š škind€ofŠ pĄ Šš šcowed€downšš€and€š šreal€timid.šš€€The€female€was€later€identified€as€Esther€Combs.€€JordanŠ \¬ Štransported€her€to€the€police€department,€where€she€was€subsequently€picked€up€by€Joseph€Combs.€Š H˜ ŠDuring€cross„examination,€Officer€Jordan€read€his€official€report€of€the€incident€which€stated:€š š„„VicŠ 4„ ŠJordan,€talked€with€Esther€who€said€that€she€had€a€misunderstanding€with€her€parents,€and€thatššs€whyŠ  p Šshe€left€home.šš€€Officer€Jordan€confirmed€that€the€report€was€an€accurate€statement€of€what€EstherŠ  \ Šhad€said€to€him.Š ųH ŠĢą  ąEstherššs€second€runaway€incident€was€reported€to€the€police€department€by€Joseph€CombsŠ Š  Šon€September€29,€1996.€€It€was€a€Sunday.€€When€Detective€Jerry€Smeltzer€arrived€at€the€EmanuelŠ ¼  ŠBaptist€Church€to€investigate,€Joseph€told€him€that€Esther€had€disappeared€from€the€church€nurseryŠ Øų Šduring€the€evening€church€service.€€In€the€nursery,€Smeltzer€observed€a€large€rocking€chair€layingŠ ”ä Šon€its€side,€items€from€a€ladyššs€handbag€strewn€about,€and€two€large€š šgobsšš€of€human€hair,€one€onŠ €Š Ša€table€and€the€other€on€the€floor€near€the€door.€€Smeltzer€testified€that€Esther€was€located€in€CarterŠ l¼ ŠCounty€at€4:30€a.m.€the€next€morning€and€returned€home.€€Smeltzer€telephoned€the€church€the€nextŠ X Ø Šday.€€A€male€voice€answered.€€Smeltzer€asked€to€speak€with€Esther€but€the€man€said€that€this€wasŠ D!” Šnot€possible.€€He€made€two€more€attempts€with€similar€fruitless€results.Š 0"€  ŠĢą  ąThe€State€presented€numerous€witnesses€to€testify€regarding€their€contact€with€the€CombsŠ $X" Šfamily€and€what€they€had€observed€concerning€the€familyššs€treatment€of€Esther.€€In€this€vein,Š ō$D # ŠGayland€M.€Oaks,€II,€testified€that€he€had€known€the€Combs€family€for€twelve€years.€€He€met€JosephŠ ą%0!$ ŠCombs€in€1981€at€Hyles„Anderson€College,€where€Joseph€was€š ša€Bible€teacher.šš€€Gayland€was€oneŠ Ģ&"% Šof€his€students€at€the€time.€€Gayland€graduated€in€1985€and€moved€to€Ohio.€€Some€time€later,Š ø'#& ŠGayland€called€Joseph€(who€was€living€in€Florida)€to€invite€him€to€teach€a€seminar€on€family€life€inŠ ¤(ō#' ŠOhio.€€Instead,€Joseph€asked€Gayland€to€serve€as€his€associate€pastor€in€Florida.€€Gayland€accepted.€Š )ą$( ŠIn€Florida,€Gayland€was€responsible€for€building€a€music€ministry€and€increasing€church€attendance,Š |*Ģ%) Šamong€other€things.€€His€wife,€Malinda,€babysat€the€Combs€children€one€day€per€week€from€JulyŠ h+ø&* Šthrough€October€1987,€when€Malinda€became€pregnant€and€Gayland€assumed€her€babysittingŠ ° Šresponsibilities.€€Joseph€informed€Gayland€that€only€a€very€few€people€were€permitted€to€interactŠ œģ Šwith€the€Combs€children.€€Thus,€he€should€consider€it€a€š šgreat€honoršš€to€be€selected.Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąGayland€watched€over€the€Combs€children€each€Thursday€beginning€in€November€1987,€untilŠ `° ŠMay€1988.€€He€arrived€at€approximately€8:00€a.m.€and€stayed€until€somewhere€between€8:00€andŠ L œ Š10:00€p.m.€€Joseph€told€Gayland€that€he€was€only€responsible€for€supervising€the€children,€nothingŠ 8 ˆ Šmore,€because€š šEsther€would€take€care€of€the€food,€the€babies,€the€diapers,€everything.šš€€GaylandŠ $ t Štestified€that€Esther€was€nine€years€old€at€the€time€and€took€care€of€the€babies€š šexceptionally€well.šš€Š  ` ŠShe€brought€them€their€bottles,€changed€their€diapers,€and€prepared€food€for€all€of€the€other€children;Š ü L  Šshe€made€š šwhatever€they€asked€for,€whenever€they€asked€for€it.šš€€Rarely€did€the€children€eat€togetherŠ č 8  Šor€at€one€time,€and€they€seldom€went€outdoors€during€the€day.€€Joseph€said€that€he€did€not€want€theŠ Ō$  Šauthorities€to€learn€that€the€children€were€not€enrolled€in€school.Š Ą  ŠĢą  ąGayland€also€testified€that€Evangeline€and€Joseph€Combs€treated€Esther€differently€from€theŠ ˜č  Šother€children.€€Joseph€had€informed€Gayland€that€Esther€Combsšš€š špurpose€in€life€was€to€be€a€servantŠ „Ō  Š.€.€.€that€was€what€God€had€created€her€to€be.šš€€Consequently,€the€Combs€were€training€her€to€do€that.€Š pĄ ŠWhen€Joseph€and€Evangeline€returned€home€on€the€nights€that€Gayland€babysat,€they€asked€him€forŠ \¬ Ša€report€of€the€childrensšš€behavior.€€On€those€occasions€that€Gayland€reported€a€child€other€thanŠ H˜ ŠEsther€had€committed€some€indiscretion,€the€Combs€would€instead€punish€Esther€or€send€her€to€theŠ 4„ Šoffice.€€According€to€Joseph,€the€office€was€where€the€spankings€took€place.€€Joseph€informedŠ  p ŠGayland€that€š šit€was€necessary€to€spank€a€child€through€their€rebellion€.€.€.€[which]€meant€to€spankŠ  \ Šthem€until€they€stopped€resisting€you,€stopped€struggling€against€you,€stopped€crying.ššŠ ųH ŠĢą  ąRegarding€Estherššs€appearance,€Gayland€testified€that€she€was€š švery€frail,€weak,€[and]Š Š  Šappeared€sickly.šš€€He€noticed€a€scar€on€her€upper€lip€and€another€on€her€hand.€€She€always€wore€longŠ ¼  Šdresses€which€covered€most€of€her€body,€her€arms,€and€all€of€her€legs.€€The€dresses€were€often€tooŠ Øų Šbig€for€her.€€She€wore€her€hair€long,€with€bangs€which€covered€most€of€her€forehead.€€Her€teeth€wereŠ ”ä Šš švery€bad,€the€worst€[he]€had€ever€seen,€protruding€out€of€her€mouth€and€in€deplorable€condition.šš€Š €Š ŠJoseph€did€not€specifically€explain€to€Gayland€how€Esther€had€received€any€of€her€injuries.€€He€saidŠ l¼ Šonly€that€Esther€was€š šclumsyšš€and€š šfell€a€lot.šš€€Gayland€testified€that€he€never€personally€saw€herŠ X Ø Šact€clumsily€or€fall€down,€however.€€In€addition,€Esther€was€š šthe€most€cooperative€and€amiable€andŠ D!” Špleasant€of€the€children€.€.€.€.€[I]t€was€not€necessary€to€ask€her€to€do€anything.€€She€did€it€withoutŠ 0"€  Šasking.šš€€She€was€not€disobedient€to€Gayland€and,€at€church,€she€appeared€to€obey€her€parents€also.€Š #l! ŠGayland€never€saw€Esther€playing€rough€with€the€other€children€or€injure€herself,€and€he€never€sawŠ $X" Šher€apart€from€the€other€members€of€her€family.€€In€May€1988,€Gayland€and€his€wife€returned€toŠ ō$D # ŠOhio,€after€which€they€had€no€further€contact€with€the€Combs€family.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢą  ąMalinda€Oaks,€wife€of€Gayland€Oaks,€also€testified€that€she€had€performed€babysitting€dutiesŠ ø'#& Šfor€the€Combs€family.€€During€one€such€occasion,€Malinda€discovered€that€Esther€was€unable€toŠ ¤(ō#' Šwrite€her€name.€€She€was€nine€years€old€at€the€time.€€Malinda€taught€Esther€to€write€her€name€andŠ )ą$( Šalso€gave€her€instruction€on€the€alphabet.€€When€Evangeline€and€Joseph€returned€home€that€evening,Š |*Ģ%) ŠEsther€showed€them€what€she€had€written.€€She€was€š šexcitedšš€about€her€accomplishment,€but€theŠ h+ø&* ŠCombs€appeared€displeased€and€sent€her€to€š šthe€office.šš€€When€asked€to€describe€EstherššsŠ ° Šappearance,€Malinda€replied€that€Esther€had€scars€around€her€mouth€and€a€broken€tooth.€€MalindaŠ œģ Šalso€reported€that€she€had€never€noticed€Esther€to€be€clumsy,€fall€frequently,€or€injure€herself.Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąKelly€Rose€Wood€testified€that€she€also€babysat€for€the€Combs€family€while€they€lived€inŠ `° ŠFlorida.€€It€was€during€the€fall€of€1986,€and€Sarah€Combs€had€just€been€born.€€One€evening,€sheŠ L œ Šobserved€that€Esther€had€kicked€the€covers€off€while€sleeping.€€Wood€then€noticed€that€the€back€ofŠ 8 ˆ ŠEstherššs€legs€were€š švery,€very€scarred.šš€€They€had€š šstripes€all€over€the€back€of€them;€some€old,€someŠ $ t Šnew,€some€very€fresh,€just€scar€upon€scar€upon€scar€.€.€.€.šš€€Wood€observed€that€the€back€of€CindyŠ  ` ŠCombsšš€legs€were€also€visible,€and€they€did€not€have€a€single€mark€on€them.€€Another€time,€WoodŠ ü L  Šnoted€a€gouge€wound€on€Estherššs€chest.€€It€was€a€š šfresh€wound.šš€€Wood€also€testified€that€Esther€didŠ č 8  Šnot€appear€to€be€clumsy€and€she€did€not€behave€in€a€rebellious€manner.€€Instead,€Esther€was€š šveryŠ Ō$  Šquietšš€and€š šmeek.šš€€She€was€a€small,€thin€child,€and€the€clothing€she€wore€was€very€loose,€baggy,Š Ą  Šand€long,€so€that€you€did€not€see€much€of€her.€€Wood€claimed€that€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Combs€treatedŠ ¬ü  ŠEsther€very€differently€from€the€other€children,€but€she€did€not€elaborate€further.Š ˜č  ŠĢą  ąAndy€Steven€Arnold€testified€that€he€knew€the€Combs€family.€€He€regularly€attended€SundayŠ pĄ Šand€Wednesday€services€at€EBC€from€the€early€months€of€1992€until€the€fall€of€1993.€€ArnoldŠ \¬ Štestified€that€Esther€always€wore€long€dresses€with€long€sleeves€and€that€she€did€not€interact€withŠ H˜ Šother€adults€or€the€other€children€at€the€church.€€Instead,€Esther€was€š švery€withdrawnšš€and€š škept€toŠ 4„ Šherself.šš€€When€Arnold€attempted€to€talk€to€her,€she€would€not€make€eye€contact€with€him,€and€sheŠ  p Šonly€spoke€when€asked€a€direct€question.€€Evangeline€was€always€nearby.€€Arnold€claimed€thatŠ  \ Šš š[Esther]€was€just€never€really€out€of€Mrs.€Combsšš€sight.šš€€On€two€separate€occasions,€ArnoldŠ ųH Šobserved€that€Esther€was€injured.€€The€first€time,€her€arm€was€wrapped€in€gauze€and€supported€byŠ ä4 Ša€sling.€€The€second€occasion€Esther€showed€up€for€church€with€black€eyes€and€bruises€on€her€face.€Š Š  ŠJoseph€Combs€said€that€Esther€š šwas€clumsy,€fell€down,€things€of€that€nature.šš€€Evangeline€CombsŠ ¼  Šgave€similar€explanations.€€Esther€missed€more€church€services€than€the€other€children.€€The€CombsŠ Øų Šfamily€usually€said€that€she€was€š šsick.šš€€Arnold€also€testified€that€he€delivered€food€to€the€CombsŠ ”ä Šfamily€several€times,€but€he€was€never€allowed€into€their€home.€€Instead,€he€was€instructed€to€set€theŠ €Š Šfood€on€a€concrete€slab€at€the€door€of€the€fellowship€hall,€knock,€and€then€leave€the€premises.Š l¼ ŠĢą  ąBetty€Atkinson€testified€that€she€played€piano€during€the€church€services€at€EBC,€beginningŠ D!” Šin€July€1994.€€Atkinson€also€testified€that€Esther€wore€long„sleeved€clothing€and€rarely€interactedŠ 0"€  Šwith€anyone€outside€of€the€Combs€family.€€Atkinson€confirmed€that€Evangeline€Combs€was€usuallyŠ #l! Šby€Estherššs€side€and€that€Esther€appeared€subdued,€obedient,€and€avoided€eye€contact€when€spokenŠ $X" Što.€€As€far€as€Atkinson€could€tell,€Esther€was€not€clumsy€and€she€did€not€fall€a€lot.€€EvangelineŠ ō$D # Šinformed€Atkinson€that€Esther€loved€to€serve€and€this€was€her€lifeššs€purpose,€but€Esther€wasŠ ą%0!$ Šš šrebellious.šš€€Atkinson€never€saw€any€indication€of€this,€however.€€To€her,€Esther€appeared€š šveryŠ Ģ&"% Šsweet€.€.€.€[and]€obedient€to€her€parents.ššŠ ø'#& ŠĢą  ąDavid€Lamar€Wright€attended€EBC€from€1982€until€January€1994.€€Wright€testified€that€heŠ )ą$( Šbecame€acquainted€with€the€Combs€family,€including€Esther,€during€this€time.€€He€said€that€JosephŠ |*Ģ%) ŠCombs€had€characterized€Esther€as€a€š šrebellious€child.šš€€Š h+ø&* Š‡ą  ąEsther€Owens,€a€member€of€EBC€from€1990€to€1993,€testified€that€Esther€did€not€interactŠ ° Šwith€other€members€of€the€church€and€that€she€did€not€recall€ever€seeing€Esther€without€EvangelineŠ œģ Šclose€by.€€According€to€Owens,€Esther€regularly€missed€church€services.€€On€some€of€thoseŠ ˆŲ Šoccasions,€Joseph€Combs€gave€the€congregation€reasons€for€her€absence,€e.g.,€she€had€an€accidentŠ tÄ Šwith€her€bicycle,€lifted€a€jug€of€milk,€et€cetera.€€Esther€looked€š š[r]eally,€really€skinny€and€real€badššŠ `° Šwhen€Owens€knew€her,€and€she€always€wore€long€dresses€with€long€sleeves.€€Joseph€asked€OwensŠ L œ Što€bring€food€to€the€family€on€a€few€occasions,€and€he€always€instructed€her€to€leave€it€on€the€porch.€Š 8 ˆ ŠHe€said€that€someone€would€come€out€and€pick€it€up€later.Š $ t ŠĢą  ąSimilar€testimony€was€given€by€numerous€other€members€of€EBS.€€Leona€Dickens,€MaryŠ ü L  ŠJohnson,€and€Donna€Sue€Hensley€attended€EBS€for€forty„four€years,€forty„five€years,€and€two€years,Š č 8  Šrespectively.€€Dickens,€Johnson€and€Hensley€testified€that€they€observed€the€Combs€family€duringŠ Ō$  Šchurch€services,€and€all€three€noted€obvious€injuries€to€various€parts€of€Estherššs€body,€including€herŠ Ą  Šarm,€eyes,€and€forehead.€€The€three€witnesses€were€also€given€various€explanations€by€Joseph€and/orŠ ¬ü  ŠEvangeline€as€to€how€the€injuries€were€sustained,€e.g.,€Esther€was€clumsy€and€fell€often.€€None€ofŠ ˜č  Šthese€witnesses€had€ever€observed€Esther€fall€or€behave€clumsily,€however.€€The€witnesses€Š „Ō  Šcorroborated€the€testimony€of€previous€witnesses€concerning€Estherššs€style€of€dress€(long€length/longŠ pĄ Šsleeves)€and€demeanor.€€Specifically,€they€claimed€that€Esther€was€different€from€the€other€CombsŠ \¬ Šchildren€in€that€she€appeared€frightened,€quiet,€and€generally€did€not€interact€with€others€or€make€eyeŠ H˜ Šcontact€during€conversation.€€Johnson€testified€that€instead€of€playing€with€other€children,€EstherŠ 4„ Šworked.€€The€other€Combs€children€always€played.€€Johnson€never€saw€them€do€any€work.€€HensleyŠ  p Šsimilarly€testified€that€the€Combs€children,€save€Esther,€were€allowed€to€do€š špretty€much€whateverŠ  \ Šthey€wanted.šš€€Esther€was€responsible€for€taking€care€of€young€Sarah€Combs€and,€whenever€theŠ ųH ŠCombs€family€attended€a€social€gathering,€Esther€served€the€other€members€of€the€family€their€meals.€Š ä4 ŠOn€the€matter€of€delivering€food€to€the€Combs€residence,€Hensley€testified€that€she€performed€thisŠ Š  Šservice€on€more€than€one€occasion,€but€was€never€once€allowed€into€the€Combs€home.€€Ordinarily,Š ¼  Šshe€would€knock€on€the€door€and€no€one€answered.€€After€a€few€minutes,€she€put€the€food€down€andŠ Øų Šleft.€€The€last€time€she€delivered€food,€she€knocked,€left€the€food,€and€then€drove€around€the€building.€Š ”ä ŠBy€the€time€she€returned€to€the€door,€the€food€had€disappeared.Š €Š ŠĢą  ąDr.€Mona€Gretel€Harlan,€a€forensic€pathologist,€testified€that€she€examined€Esther€on€AprilŠ X Ø Š4,€1999,€at€the€prosecutorššs€request.€€Her€examination€revealed€the€following:€The€scars€on€the€insideŠ D!” Šof€Estherššs€thighs€were€consistent€with€burn€wounds.€€The€scars€on€Estherššs€forehead€were€notŠ 0"€  Šsignificant€in€number,€but€they€were€layered,€some€as€many€as€three€layers€thick,€indicating€that€someŠ #l! Šof€the€newer€injuries€were€inflicted€upon€existing€scars.€€The€broad€scar€on€Estherššs€forearm€wasŠ $X" Šconsistent€with€a€deep€wound€which,€for€some€reason,€did€not€heal€properly€due€to€reinjury€orŠ ō$D # Šinfection.€€When€asked€whether€the€cause€of€the€scars€could€have€been€accidental€trauma,€Dr.€HarlanŠ ą%0!$ Štestified€affirmatively€with€regard€to€Estherššs€forehead€scars,€especially€if€the€injuries€occurred€whenŠ Ģ&"% Šshe€was€a€young€child.€€She€said€that€children€have€large,€heavy€heads.€€Thus,€they€are€prone€to€tipŠ ø'#& Šover€when€moving€in€a€forward€direction.€€By€contrast,€the€wounds€on€Estherššs€back,€thighs,€andŠ ¤(ō#' Šbuttocks€were€not€consistent€with€either€self„inflicted€or€accidentally„caused€injuries.€€In€herŠ )ą$( Šsummation,€Dr.€Harlan€reported€that€the€majority€of€Estherššs€scars€were€the€result€of€non„accidentalŠ |*Ģ%) Šand€non„self„inflicted€trauma.€Š h+ø&* Š‡ą  ąDr.€Harlan€also€testified€that€she€was€unable€to€date€the€causative€injuries.€€However,€noneŠ ° Šof€the€observed€scars€were€red€at€the€time€of€the€exam.€€In€other€words,€the€scars€had€all€healed€asŠ œģ Šmuch€as€was€possible€and€none€of€them€appeared€to€be€the€result€of€an€injury€sustained€within€theŠ ˆŲ Špast€year.€€A€careful€and€thorough€count€of€the€scars€on€Estherššs€body€revealed€410€discrete€scars.€Š tÄ ŠDr.€Harlan€stated€that€during€her€25€years€of€practice,€she€had€never€before€seen€so€many€individualŠ `° Šscars€on€one€personššs€body.€Š L œ ŠĢą  ąDr.€Henry€Nichols€testified€that€he€evaluated€Estherššs€dental€condition€on€May€11,€1998,€and,Š $ t Šat€that€time,€her€front€teeth€were€š šgrossly€displacedšš€or€š šbucktooth€exaggerated.šš€€In€Dr.€NicholsššŠ  ` Šopinion,€the€only€reasonable€cause€of€the€displacement€would€be€some€sort€of€š štraumatic€episode,ššŠ ü L  Ši.e.,€a€blow,€fall,€concussion,€or€other€sort€of€abrupt€physical€force€contact€with€the€tissue.€€TheŠ č 8  Šprosecutor€asked€Dr.€Nichols€if€he€could€state,€within€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty,Š Ō$  Šwhether€the€condition€of€Estherššs€front€teeth€was€consistent€with€complete€displacement,€followedŠ Ą  Šby€reinsertion€of€the€teeth€into€the€gums.€€Dr.€Nichols€responded€affirmatively,€stating€that€toothŠ ¬ü  Šdisplacement€to€the€degree€present€in€Estherššs€mouth€š šjust€doesnššt€occur€in€nature.šš€€Dr.€NicholsŠ ˜č  Šstated€that€in€his€twenty€years€of€practice,€he€had€never€observed€an€arrangement€of€teeth€similar€toŠ „Ō  ŠEstherššs.€€Moreover,€the€shape€of€Estherššs€dental€arch€was€not€the€typical€š šUšš€shape,€but€š šterriblyŠ pĄ Šdistorted.šš€€The€blunted€appearance€of€the€roots€of€Estherššs€upper€front€teeth€and€the€condition€ofŠ \¬ Šher€lower€jaw€revealed€further€evidence€of€trauma:€the€top€half€of€one€of€her€lower€incisors€wasŠ H˜ Šmissing€and€a€cyst€had€formed€on€the€root,€without€any€sign€of€decay€(the€typical€cause).€€With€theŠ 4„ Špermission€and€assistance€of€Estherššs€natural€parents,€Bill€and€Rachel€Whetstone€(formerly€RachelŠ  p ŠGarcia),€Dr.€Nichols€treated€Estherššs€conditions€and€replaced€her€two€upper€front€teeth€with€aŠ  \ Špermanent€bridge.Š ųH ŠĢą  ąDr.€Glenda€Jo€Fox€Ramsey,€a€radiologist,€testified€that€she€evaluated€x„rays€of€Estherššs€leftŠ Š  Šelbow€and,€in€her€opinion,€the€elbow€appeared€š šabnormal.šš€€Specifically,€the€distal€humerus,€aŠ ¼  Športion€of€the€long€bone€at€the€elbow,€had€not€grown€properly.€€The€x„ray€showed€a€healed€fracture,Š Øų Šcaused€by€some€sort€of€š štraumašš€(defined€by€Dr.€Ramsey€as€š šan€injury,€a€blow€to€the€bone€thatššs€notŠ ”ä Ša€normal€degree€of€stressšš).€€She€further€testified€that€the€appearance€of€the€bone€indicated€an€injuryŠ €Š Šš šconsistent€with€being€struck€by€an€object€such€as€a€[baseball]€batšš€or€the€result€of€a€fall.€€The€injuryŠ l¼ Šwas€not€consistent€with€the€action€of€swinging€a€gallon€milk€jug.€€Dr.€Ramsey€also€testified€that€x„Š X Ø Šrays€of€Estherššs€sacrum€(š štailbonešš)€revealed€an€abnormal€š šacutešš€curvature€of€the€bone,€as€if€it€wereŠ D!” Šš šcollapsed€inward.šš€€Finally,€she€testified€that€Estherššs€š šbone€agešš€was€š šdelayedšš€by€at€least€threeŠ 0"€  Šyears,€i.e.,€the€development€of€her€bones€was€significantly€slower€than€her€chronological€age,Š #l! Šreporting€that€such€š š[a]€delay€in€bone€age€is€a€common€manifestation€of€malnutrition.šš€€Š $X" ŠĢą  ąAt€the€conclusion€of€the€above€testimony,€the€State€rested€its€case.€€Thereafter,€SamuelŠ ą%0!$ ŠJohnson,€an€acquaintance€of€Defendant€Joseph€Combs,€testified€that€he€met€Joseph€at€the€Hyles„Š Ģ&"% ŠAnderson€Bible€College€in€1983.€€Johnson€saw€him€again€in€Florida€in€1986.€€At€that€time,€JosephŠ ø'#& Šwas€starting€the€Tampa€Bay€Baptist€Church.€€Johnson€became€a€member€and€saw€the€Combs€childrenŠ ¤(ō#' Šregularly€(three€to€five€times€per€week)€for€the€following€two„and„one„half€years.€€In€addition,Š )ą$( ŠJohnson€had€stayed€as€a€guest€in€the€Combsšš€home€for€two€weeks€while€he€was€seeking€employment.€Š |*Ģ%) ŠJohnson€testified€that€their€home€was€š švery€normal,šš€clean,€and€organized.€€Š h+ø&* Š‡ą  ąAaron€P.€Welch,€pastor€of€the€Charles€Towne€Baptist€Temple€in€South€Carolina,€testified€thatŠ ° Šhe€met€Joseph€Combs€in€1979.€€Welch€was€a€student€of€Josephššs€at€Hyles„Anderson€Bible€CollegeŠ œģ Šand€graduated€in€1982.€€In€1986,€he€saw€Defendant€again.€€Joseph€was€preparing€to€move€to€FloridaŠ ˆŲ Šat€the€time.€€In€1987,€Welch€arranged€to€have€Joseph€come€to€his€church€in€South€Carolina€andŠ tÄ Špreach€for€him.€€Thereafter,€Welch€scheduled€Joseph€to€preach€on€a€regular€basis,€sometimes€asŠ `° Šmuch€as€twice€a€year.€€When€this€happened,€Joseph€stayed€for€five€to€six€days€and€brought€his€familyŠ L œ Šwith€him.€€Welch€found€the€Combs€children,€including€Esther,€to€be€š šquiet,€well„mannered€kidsššŠ 8 ˆ Šwho€š šalways€dressed€very€neat.šš€€He€described€Esther€as€š šreal€sweetšš€and€š šquiet.ššŠ $ t ŠĢą  ąJoseph€Henry€Esposito,€a€pastor€at€Pacific€Baptist€Church€in€Long€Beach,€California,€testifiedŠ ü L  Šthat€Joseph€Combs€was€one€of€his€professors€at€Hyles„Anderson€Bible€College.€€In€1986,€EspositoŠ č 8  Šleft€the€college€and€moved€with€his€wife€to€Clearwater,€Florida,€where€he€worked€for€one€year€as€anŠ Ō$  Šassistant€pastor€to€Joseph€at€the€Tampa€Bay€Baptist€Church.€€When€he€and€his€wife€first€arrived,€theyŠ Ą  Šwere€invited€to€live€in€the€Combsšš€home€for€two€weeks€until€they€found€a€place€of€their€own.€Š ¬ü  ŠEsposito€saw€the€Combs€children€often€and€his€wife€babysat€occasionally.€€Esposito€claimed€that€theŠ ˜č  ŠCombsšš€home€was€š šbeautifulšš€and€the€kids€were€all€š šnormal,€happy€children.šš€€During€cross„Š „Ō  Šexamination,€Esposito€testified€that€he€had€observed€no€scars€or€marks€on€Estherššs€body€while€inŠ pĄ ŠFlorida.€€He€did€recall€a€possible€chip€in€one€of€her€front€teeth,€however.€€When€asked€whether€EstherŠ \¬ Šwas€ever€rebellious,€clumsy,€or€troublesome,€Esposito€replied€negatively.€€Espositoššs€wife,€MaryŠ H˜ ŠJane,€also€gave€testimony€which€essentially€echoed€her€husbandššs€statements.Š 4„ ŠĢą  ąThomas€Edward€Boyle€testified€that€he€attended€Hyles„Anderson€Bible€College€from€1981Š  \ Što€1984.€€Joseph€Combs€was€one€of€his€professors.€€In€the€fall€of€1986,€Boyle€and€his€family€movedŠ ųH Što€Clearwater,€Florida,€and€joined€the€church€that€Defendant€was€pastoring.€€During€the€next€twoŠ ä4 Šyears,€Boyle€encountered€Joseph€and€his€family€during€church€services€on€Sundays€and€Wednesdays.€Š Š  ŠBoyle€and€his€family€also€visited€the€Combs€several€times€at€their€home,€which€he€described€asŠ ¼  Šš šclean.šš€€During€cross„examination,€Boyle€said€that€he€noticed€Estherššs€front€teeth€were€crooked,Š Øų Šand€he€did€not€observe€any€evidence€of€injuries€or€clumsy€behavior.Š ”ä ŠĢą  ąTrent€Pollack€testified€that€he€met€Joseph€Combs€while€attending€Hyles„Anderson€BibleŠ l¼ ŠCollege.€€In€1986€or€1987,€Pollack€and€a€few€other€people€moved€to€Florida€to€start€a€church.€Š X Ø ŠPollack€was€to€be€the€music€director,€and€he€lived€with€the€Combs€family€for€approximately€oneŠ D!” Šmonth€upon€his€arrival.€€The€Combsšš€home€served€as€a€place€for€meetings€and€the€headquarters€forŠ 0"€  Šthe€new€church.€€Pollack€testified€that€everyone€pitched€in€to€keep€the€house€clean.€€While€in€theŠ #l! ŠCombs€home,€Pollack€did€not€observe€any€of€the€children€being€singled€out€for€preferentialŠ $X" Štreatment.€€He€testified€that€Esther€participated€in€the€home€schooling€process,€along€with€the€restŠ ō$D # Šof€the€Combs€children.€€During€cross„examination,€Pollack€said€that€he€observed€scars€on€EstherššsŠ ą%0!$ Šhands€and€that€he€had€asked€Joseph€Combs€about€them.€€Joseph€informed€him€that€Esther€had€placedŠ Ģ&"% Šher€hands€into€scalding€water€and€that€she€appeared€to€have€a€high€tolerance€for€pain.Š ø'#& ŠĢą  ąJeffrey€Arnold€Coester,€a€pastor€and€part„time€clothing€salesman€in€Illinois,€testified€that€heŠ )ą$( Šmet€the€Combs€family€when€he€visited€Bristol,€Tennessee,€in€1995.€€Coester€testified€that€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šchildren,€including€Esther,€were€playing€sports€(basketball€and€baseball)€at€the€time.€€According€toŠ h+ø&* ŠCoester,€Esther€was€dressed€š šcool€and€comfortable,šš€the€same€as€the€other€children.€€He€also€reportedŠ ° Šthat€the€other€children€did€not€behave€differently€toward€her,€and€Esther€was€not€asked€to€run€errandsŠ œģ Šfor€them.€€Coester€came€to€Bristol€because€he€was€considering€joining€Joseph€Combsšš€ministry.€Š ˆŲ ŠConsequently,€he€wanted€to€learn€something€about€the€Combs€family€and€spoke€with€each€childŠ tÄ Šindividually€for€approximately€ten€minutes.€€According€to€Coester,€Esther€was€š švery€comfortableššŠ `° Šwith€him,€š ša€little€bit€shy,€but€never€withdrawn.šš€€During€cross„examination,€Coester€testified€thatŠ L œ Šhe€had€observed€scars€only€on€Estherššs€face€and€that€he€was€concerned€about€the€condition€ofŠ 8 ˆ ŠEstherššs€teeth.€€Coester€said€that€he€did€not€move€to€Bristol€or€take€the€job€at€EBC,€but€he€gave€noŠ $ t Šreason€for€this€decision.Š  ` ŠĢą  ąRuby€Rhotenberry,€a€regularly„attending€member€of€EBC€from€1967€to€1998,€testified€thatŠ č 8  Šshe€saw€the€Combs€children€at€church€services€approximately€three€times€a€week.€€Rhotenberry€saidŠ Ō$  Šthat€the€family,€including€Esther,€appeared€š švery€friendly,€happy,€always€laughing,€talking,€friendly.šš€Š Ą  ŠRhotenberry€claimed€that€she€had€š švery€fewšš€private€conversations€with€Esther,€but,€when€she€did,Š ¬ü  ŠEsther€never€reported€having€been€mistreated€or€sexually€abused€by€either€Defendant.€€During€theŠ ˜č  Štrial,€Rhotenberry€identified€eighteen€photographs€that€she€personally€took€of€the€Combs€family€onŠ „Ō  Švarious€occasions.€€Most€of€the€pictures€showed€family€gatherings,€with€the€majority€of€the€familyŠ pĄ Špresent.€€Our€review€of€this€evidence€reveals€the€following:€Esther€was€smiling€in€all€of€theŠ \¬ Šphotographs,€and€at€least€ten€of€the€pictures€show€Esther€wearing€clothes€with€short€sleeves.€€Her€leftŠ H˜ Šelbow€and€arm€appears€abnormal€and€thin.€€Scarring€is€apparent€on€at€least€one€arm€in€twoŠ 4„ Šphotographs,€and€her€front€teeth€are€grossly€malaligned.€€During€cross„examination,€RhotenberryŠ  p Štestified€that€Esther€was€a€thin,€frail,€well„behaved€girl,€who€was€never€rebellious€or€clumsy€in€herŠ  \ Špresence.€€Š ųH ŠĢą  ąPauline€Melvin€testified€that€she€was€a€member€of€EBC€from€1981€until€it€closed€in€1998.€Š Š  ŠMelvin€met€the€Combs€family€when€they€came€to€the€church€in€1989,€and€she€usually€sat€with€theŠ ¼  ŠCombs€children€during€church€services.€€Melvin€reported€that€all€of€the€children€were€š šnicešš€andŠ Øų Šš šhappyšš€and€gave€her€hugs€when€they€met.€€During€cross„examination,€Melvin€testified€that€Esther€Š ”ä Šwas€thin,€well„behaved,€and€obedient.€€In€addition,€Esther€did€not€fall€down€frequently€or€appearŠ €Š Šclumsy.€€Melvin€also€admitted€that€she€was€š šnot€really€closešš€to€Esther€and€that€she€never€saw€muchŠ l¼ Šof€Estherššs€skin€exposed,€since€she€usually€wore€long€dresses.Š X Ø ŠĢą  ąElizabeth€Huff€and€her€husband,€Dickie€Lee€Huff,€started€attending€EBC€in€1996.€€At€trial,Š 0"€  ŠElizabeth€testified€that€she€observed€the€Combs€children,€including€Esther,€during€church€servicesŠ #l! Šand€that€they€were€š šall€friendlyšš€and€š šgave€us€a€hug€on€Sunday.šš€€In€1997,€the€Huffs€attended€aŠ $X" Šdinner€function€with€the€Combs€family.€€Esther€appeared€to€be€š šjust€fine,šš€an€obedient€child,€and€notŠ ō$D # Šrebellious.€€Elizabeth€acknowledged€that€she€saw€Esther€only€on€Sundays.€€Dickie€Lee€Huff€testifiedŠ ą%0!$ Šthat€the€Combs€children,€including€Esther,€appeared€to€be€š švery€happy.šš€€During€cross„examination,Š Ģ&"% ŠDickie€Lee€admitted€that€he€also€had€very€little€contact€with€the€Combs€family,€except€on€Sunday.€Š ø'#& ŠDickie€Lee€also€testified€that€Esther€was€thin€and€wore€baggy€clothing,€but€he€claimed€that€sheŠ ¤(ō#' Šlooked€no€different€from€the€other€Combs€children.€€He€never€observed€Esther€falling€down€or€beingŠ )ą$( Šclumsy,€and€he€had€not€observed€any€scars€on€her€face€or€body.€€Dickie€Lee€admitted€that€he€paid€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šbond€for€Joseph€Combs€in€this€case.Š h+ø&* Š‡ą  ąHilda€Jane€Combs,€Joseph€Combsšš€mother,€testified€that€prior€to€1989,€she€only€saw€her€sonŠ ° Šand€his€family€once€or€twice€a€year.€€After€Joseph€became€the€pastor€at€EBC,€she€saw€the€CombsŠ œģ Šfamily€more€frequently,€at€least€three€times€a€week€(at€church€services)€and€during€visits.€€Mrs.Š ˆŲ ŠCombs€testified€that€all€the€children€seemed€š šhappy,šš€and€Esther€š šwas€always€smiling.šš€€Mrs.€CombsŠ tÄ Šsaid€that€the€children€š šgot€along€finešš€and€played€together,€but€Esther€was€a€š šrough€little€girlšš€andŠ `° Šliked€to€wrestle€with€the€boys.€€Mrs.€Combs€further€claimed€that€Esther€had€a€temper€and,€š šif€she€feltŠ L œ Šsomething€wasnššt€right,€sheššd€tell€you.šš€€Consequently,€Mrs.€Combs€professed€confusion€as€to€whyŠ 8 ˆ ŠEsther€would€not€tell€her€if€something€was€wrong.€€Mrs.€Combs€was€unaware€that€anything€wasŠ $ t Šamiss€until€Esther€left€town.€€Later,€Esther€told€her€that€she€left€because€she€was€afraid€of€DebbieŠ  ` ŠRichmond€[McCauley]€and€that€she€would€be€placed€in€an€š šinsane€asylum.ššŠ ü L  ŠĢą  ąMrs.€Combs€testified€that€Fatherššs€Day€1991€(the€day€Joseph€allegedly€committed€the€rapeŠ Ō$  Šin€count€15)€was€special€because€it€fell€on€Evangelineššs€birthday.€€Mrs.€Combs€said€that€the€familyŠ Ą  Šgathered€at€Mrs.€Combsšš€house€for€fried€chicken€after€church€that€day€and€stayed€until€the€time€cameŠ ¬ü  Što€leave€for€the€evening€church€service€at€6:00€p.m.€€Mrs.€Combs€also€testified€that€on€ThanksgivingŠ ˜č  ŠDay€1993€(the€day€the€rape€in€count€16€was€allegedly€committed),€the€Combs€family€spent€the€dayŠ „Ō  Šat€her€house€and€stayed€until€11:00€p.m.€€During€cross„examination,€Mrs.€Combs€claimed€to€haveŠ pĄ Šno€knowledge€of€any€scars€on€Estherššs€body.€€When€asked€whether€Esther€š šhelped€her€family€out,ššŠ \¬ ŠMrs.€Combs€replied€that€she€š šplayed€too€muchšš€to€be€helpful.€€Mrs.€Combs€described€Esther€as€aŠ H˜ Šsmiling,€cheerful,€obedient€child€who€was€always€running€from€place€to€place,€talking€to€people€andŠ 4„ Škeeping€busy.Š  p ŠĢą  ąThe€other€five€Combs€children,€James,€David,€Cindy,€Peter,€and€Sarah€Combs,€also€testified.€Š ųH ŠJames€Jack€Combs,€the€oldest,€was€the€only€child€legally€adopted€by€the€Combs.€€(David,€Cindy,Š ä4 ŠPeter€and€Sarah€were€the€Combsšš€natural€children).€€At€the€time€of€trial,€James€was€twenty„two€yearsŠ Š  Šold.€€James€testified€that€during€the€time€the€Combs€family€lived€in€the€fellowship€hall€of€EBC,€anŠ ¼  Šaverage€day€for€the€household€began€at€approximately€6:00€a.m.€on€weekdays.€€On€the€weekends,Š Øų Šthey€started€their€day€a€little€later.€€James€claimed€that€he€did€not€eat€breakfast€every€morning€butŠ ”ä Šwhen€he€did,€he€fixed€it€himself€or€Peter€helped€him.€€Esther€never€prepared€his€breakfast.€€Further,Š €Š Šas€each€Combs€child€finished€the€morning€meal,€that€child€then€carried€his€or€her€own€dishes€to€theŠ l¼ Škitchen,€where€Peter,€Cindy,€Sarah€and€Esther€would€rinse€them€and€place€them€in€the€dishwasher.€Š X Ø ŠAfter€the€children€had€finished€breakfast€and€dressed,€their€studies€began.€€Evangeline€and€JosephŠ D!” ŠCombs€typically€instructed€the€children€for€four€to€five€hours.€€All€the€children,€including€Esther,Š 0"€  Šparticipated€in€the€instruction.€€According€to€James,€Esther€was€able€to€read€and€write.€€He€hadŠ #l! Špreviously€observed€her€reading€to€Peter,€writing€in€the€kitchen,€and€performing€mathematicalŠ $X" Šcalculations.Š ō$D # ŠĢą  ąAt€lunchtime,€each€of€the€Combs€children€usually€made€his€or€her€own€lunch.€Each€child€wasŠ Ģ&"% Šalso€responsible€for€performing€certain€chores€around€the€home.€€James€cared€for€the€dogs€and€cats.€Š ø'#& ŠEsther€was€responsible€for€making€her€own€bed€and€picking€up€her€clothes.€€She€also€helped€prepareŠ ¤(ō#' Šdinner€and€clear€the€table€afterward.€€The€job€of€making€a€grocery€list€was€assigned€to€no€one€inŠ )ą$( Šparticular.€€When€someone€in€the€family€believed€something€was€needed,€the€person€wrote€the€nameŠ |*Ģ%) Šof€the€item€on€a€piece€of€paper€attached€to€the€refrigerator.€€James€claimed€that€Esther€did€not€haveŠ h+ø&* Šmore€chores€than€the€rest€of€the€family,€and€she€did€not€stay€up€until€3:00€a.m.€to€complete€the€choresŠ ° Šshe€did€have.€€As€far€as€James€knew,€no€member€of€the€family€ever€treated€Esther€as€a€servant€orŠ œģ Šbelieved€that€she€had€been€born€to€such€a€station.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąJames€testified€that€after€the€schoolwork€and€chores€were€completed,€the€children€wereŠ `° Šnormally€allowed€to€watch€television€and€movies€or€play€video€games.€€The€children€were€also€givenŠ L œ Šaccess€to€computers€for€using€the€Internet,€playing€games,€and€doing€homework.€€Esther€participatedŠ 8 ˆ Šin€all€of€these€activities.€€The€family€had€a€telephone,€and€Esther€used€that€too.€€The€Combs€childrenŠ $ t Šrecreated€together€outdoors.€€They€often€rode€bikes€or€played€basketball,€baseball,€or€Frisbee€in€theŠ  ` Šchurch€parking€lot€or€DeFriece€Park,€which€was€located€approximately€one€block€away.€€Esther€hadŠ ü L  Šher€own€bike.€€The€children€also€went€shopping€at€the€mall,€out€to€eat,€and€to€the€movies€together.€Š č 8  ŠSometimes€their€parents€or€another€adult€would€accompany€them€on€these€outings,€and€sometimesŠ Ō$  Šthey€went€without€adult€supervision.Š Ą  ŠĢą  ąJames€testified€that€the€Combs€family€ate€their€evening€meal€together€and€that€variousŠ ˜č  Šmembers€of€the€family€took€turns€preparing€this€meal.€€Esther€was€not€required€to€complete€herŠ „Ō  Šchores€or€serve€everyone€at€the€table€before€she€ate,€and€she€was€given€the€same€food€as€the€rest€ofŠ pĄ Šthe€family.€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€evening€meal,€each€member€of€the€family€brought€his€or€herŠ \¬ Šown€dishes€to€the€kitchen€where€Peter,€Sarah,€Cindy,€and€Esther€rinsed€them€and€placed€them€in€theŠ H˜ Šdishwasher.€€Evangeline€Combs€did€the€familyššs€laundry€and€James€assisted€her.€€Estherššs€choresŠ 4„ Šdid€not€involve€the€laundry.€€When€bedtime€arrived,€the€children€all€slept€together€in€the€fellowshipŠ  p Šhall,€Esther€included.€€James€never€saw€Esther€sleeping€naked€or€in€a€room€near€the€showers.€€ThatŠ  \ Šroom€was€used€to€store€musical€equipment:€speakers,€amplifiers,€keyboard,€et€cetera.€€Š ųH ŠĢą  ąAccording€to€James,€punishment€of€the€Combs€children€usually€took€the€form€of€some€typeŠ Š  Šof€restriction,€either€of€their€liberty€(š šgroundingšš)€or€one€of€their€privileges€(watching€television,€etŠ ¼  Šcetera).€€Estherššs€situation€was€no€different.€€She€was€not€beaten,€whipped,€or€starved.€€James€did€seeŠ Øų ŠEsther€suffer€injuries,€however.€€On€one€occasion,€he€saw€Esther€get€hit€in€the€face€with€a€plastic€batŠ ”ä Šbecause€she€stood€on€the€wrong€side€of€the€plate€during€a€baseball€game.€€This€resulted€in€a€blackŠ €Š Šeye€and€her€face€was€red€for€a€while.€€Another€time,€he€saw€her€slip€on€a€base€and€scrape€her€kneesŠ l¼ Šon€the€asphalt€parking€lot.€€Yet€another€injury€occurred€while€the€children€were€assisting€their€parentsŠ X Ø Šwith€bringing€in€the€groceries.€€Esther€had€been€warned€not€to€carry€more€than€one€gallon€of€milkŠ D!” Šat€a€time,€but€she€did€not€listen.€€She€was€carrying€two€gallons€of€milk,€and€the€door€started€to€closeŠ 0"€  Šon€her.€€In€an€effort€to€catch€it,€she€swung€the€gallons€and€twisted€her€arm.€€Evangeline€Combs€putŠ #l! Šice€on€the€arm€and€placed€it€in€a€sling.€€James€testified€that€the€rope€burn€on€Estherššs€neck€wasŠ $X" Šcaused€by€Esther€herself.€€Esther€had€placed€a€rope€around€her€neck€to€pull€a€wagon€with€her€friendŠ ō$D # Šin€it€up€and€down€a€steep€hill.€€Her€neck€became€red€and€Evangeline€told€her€to€stop.€€She€did€not.€Š ą%0!$ ŠEventually,€she€cut€her€neck.€€James€also€claimed€that€he€never€saw€Esther€naked,€and€he€never€heardŠ Ģ&"% ŠEsther€or€anyone€else€claim€that€she€had€been€injured,€beaten,€or€molested€by€either€parent.€€JosephŠ ø'#& ŠCombsšš€attorney€asked€James€whether€he€had€witnessed€the€specific€incidents€which€gave€rise€to€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šcharges€against€the€Defendants.€€In€each€case,€James€replied€negatively.Š )ą$( Šā āŠ |*Ģ%) Šą  ąWith€regard€to€Estherššs€attire,€James€claimed€that€no€one€instructed€her€how€to€dress.€Š ° Šā āBecause€Esther€had€a€smaller€frame€than€Cindy€Combs,€she€wore€Cindyššs€hand„me„down€dresses.€Š œģ ŠDuring€church€services,€Esther€would€either€sit€with€the€family€or€work€in€the€nursery€with€otherŠ ˆŲ Šfemale€church€members.€€The€nursery€had€a€door€to€the€outside,€whereby€one€could€leave€withoutŠ tÄ Špassing€through€the€sanctuary.€€James€claimed€that€he€was€home€but€not€awake€when€the€familyŠ `° Šdiscovered€Esther€ill€in€the€bathroom€in€February€1997.€€He€recalled€that€she€had€seemed€š šnormalššŠ L œ Šthe€prior€day.€€James€and€the€rest€of€the€family€visited€Esther€in€the€hospital€at€every€opportunity.€Š 8 ˆ ŠShe€was€š šreally,€really€happyšš€to€see€Evangeline€and€Joseph,€and€she€also€appeared€š šhappyšš€to€goŠ $ t Šhome€afterward.€€Š  ` ŠĢą  ąDuring€cross„examination,€James€testified€that€he€received€his€driverššs€license€on€the€26thŠ č 8  Šor€27th€of€September€1997.€€He€also€claimed€that,€prior€to€receiving€his€driverššs€license,€he€did€notŠ Ō$  Šdrive€any€vehicle€on€any€public€road€with€one€exception:€the€day€he€drove€a€car€which€he€wasŠ Ą  Šconsidering€purchasing.€€Once€licensed,€James€drove€the€other€Combs€children,€including€Esther,Š ¬ü  Što€the€mall€and€other€places.€€He€testified€that€this€happened€š šon€many€occasionsšš€before€Esther€leftŠ ˜č  Štown€on€October€3,€1997.€€Š „Ō  ŠĢą  ąJoseph€David€Combs,€Jr.,€commonly€known€as€š šDavidšš€Combs,€was€twenty„one€years€oldŠ \¬ Šat€the€time€of€trial€and€the€third€oldest€child€in€the€Combs€family€(Esther€being€the€second€oldest).€Š H˜ ŠDavidššs€testimony€at€trial€essentially€paralleled€that€of€James€in€all€material€aspects:€David€claimedŠ 4„ Šthat€Esther€slept€in€the€fellowship€hall,€along€with€the€rest€of€the€children,€and€that€she€did€not€sleepŠ  p Šnaked.€€David€also€testified€that€after€the€Combs€children€arose€at€approximately€6:00€a.m.,€theyŠ  \ Šfixed€their€own€breakfasts€and€š šthe€girlsšš€(Esther,€Cindy,€and€Sarah)€cleaned€up.€€The€children€wereŠ ųH Šhome„schooled,€every€day,€from€approximately€7:30€a.m.€until€after€noon€and€Esther€regularlyŠ ä4 Šparticipated.€€At€lunchtime,€their€mother,€Evangeline,€fixed€sandwiches.€€Esther€and€Cindy€usuallyŠ Š  Šassisted€her.€€David€stated€that€the€evening€meal€was€a€š šspecialšš€time,€which€Joseph€liked€the€familyŠ ¼  Što€spend€together.€€This€meal€was€usually€prepared€by€Evangeline€alone,€and€the€girls€cleaned€up.Š Øų ŠĢą  ąWith€regard€to€chores,€David€testified€that€each€child€was€assigned€individual€tasks€toŠ €Š Šperform.€€David€was€responsible€for€taking€out€the€trash€and€vacuuming.€€Esther€made€her€own€bedŠ l¼ Šand€helped€with€the€cooking.€€She€did€not€have€more€chores€to€do€than€the€other€children,€and€DavidŠ X Ø Šnever€heard€anyone€say€that€Estherššs€š špurposešš€in€life€was€to€be€a€servant.€€During€the€childrenššsŠ D!” Šleisure€time,€Esther€enjoyed€playing€video€games€and€watching€television.€€Most€frequently,€theŠ 0"€  Šchildren€played€basketball,€baseball,€and€rode€bikes.€€Esther€joined€them€frequently,€but€she€playedŠ #l! Šš šrough.šš€€On€Friday€and€Saturday€nights,€the€children€frequently€went€to€the€mall.€€Esther€went€withŠ $X" Šthem€š ševery€time.šš€€David€said€that€they€were€unaccompanied€by€their€parents€on€these€trips,€andŠ ō$D # ŠJames€drove.€Š ą%0!$ ŠĢą  ąAccording€to€David,€punishment€usually€involved€š šgrounding.šš€€Occasionally,€David€wasŠ ø'#& Šspanked€instead€or€required€to€write€š šstuffšš€on€the€chalkboard.€€David€claimed€that€Esther€was€notŠ ¤(ō#' Špunished€more€severely€than€the€other€children,€and€she€was€not€whipped.€€David€recalled€fourŠ )ą$( Šinjuries€suffered€by€Esther€while€they€lived€at€EBC.€€The€first€was€a€burn€that€occurred€in€1994.€€TheŠ |*Ģ%) Šchildren€had€been€discussing€a€story€they€heard€on€the€news€about€a€child€who€had€seriously€burnedŠ h+ø&* Šhis€hand€on€a€stove.€€Esther€told€them€that€a€stove€would€not€burn€if€the€hand€was€removed€quicklyŠ ° Šenough.€€As€a€demonstration,€she€placed€her€hand€on€the€stove€and€burned€it.€€The€second€injuryŠ œģ Šresulted€from€a€mishap€with€her€bicycle€in€1996.€€She€stepped€on€the€brakes€too€hard,€slid€off€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šseat,€and€landed€on€the€center€bar.€€(She€was€riding€a€boyššs€bicycle.)€€The€third€injury€also€occurredŠ tÄ Šin€1996.€€The€children€needed€keys€which€were€locked€inside€of€Josephššs€office.€€They€tried€to€breakŠ `° Šin€through€the€ceiling,€and€Esther€fell€through€it.€€She€hit€her€head€on€the€bookcase€and€again€on€theŠ L œ Šfloor€when€she€landed.€€The€fourth€injury€came€about€when€David€accidentally€gave€Esther€a€blackŠ 8 ˆ Šand€blue€eye€with€his€elbow€while€playing.€€Š $ t ŠĢą  ąDavid€testified€that€he€had€never€seen€Esther€without€clothes€on€and€she€never€complainedŠ ü L  Šof€being€molested€by€anyone.€€Similarly€to€James,€David€was€asked€whether€he€had€witnessed€manyŠ č 8  Šof€the€individual€incidents€which€gave€rise€to€the€charges€against€the€Defendants.€€In€each€case,Š Ō$  ŠDavid€also€replied€negatively.€€Regarding€Estherššs€style€of€dress,€David€implied€that€long€dresses€andŠ Ą  Šsleeves€must€have€been€Estherššs€choice,€since€the€children€were€not€told€what€to€wear.€€David€alsoŠ ¬ü  Šsaid€that€the€Combs€had€three€different€telephones€in€their€home,€and€he€saw€Esther€use€them.€€SheŠ ˜č  Šalso€used€the€computers€and€had€friends€with€whom€she€communicated€via€the€Internet.€€DavidŠ „Ō  Šclaimed€to€have€a€š šgood€relationshipšš€with€Esther.€Š pĄ ŠĢą  ąDavid€testified€that€Esther€appeared€to€be€š šfinešš€on€the€day€before€she€was€hospitalized.€€TheŠ H˜ Šnext€morning,€however,€one€of€the€other€siblings€woke€him€up€to€come€to€the€bathroom.€€There€heŠ 4„ Šdiscovered€Esther€š šsitting€on€the€commode€and€beating€her€head€against€the€wall.šš€€He€picked€herŠ  p Šup,€laid€her€on€her€bed,€and€sent€one€of€the€other€children€to€inform€the€Defendants.€€Later,€DavidŠ  \ Šmoved€her€out€to€the€van€because€the€rescue€people€had€not€arrived.€€He€estimated€that€they€had€beenŠ ųH Šwaiting€approximately€thirty€minutes,€and€Esther€had€already€stopped€breathing€three€times.€Š ä4 ŠTherefore,€the€Combs€were€preparing€to€drive€her€to€the€hospital€themselves.€€He€also€claimed€thatŠ Š  ŠEsther€seemed€š šhappyšš€to€return€home€from€the€hospital.€€Š ¼  ŠĢą  ąDuring€cross„examination,€David€claimed€that€James€drove€the€Combs€children,€includingŠ ”ä ŠEsther,€to€the€mall€on€twenty„five€or€thirty€occasions.€€When€asked€how€many€times€the€CombsŠ €Š Šchildren€were€allowed€to€have€friends€over€to€spend€the€night€in€the€EBC€fellowship€hall€with€them,Š l¼ ŠDavid€replied€that€this€never€happened.€€David€also€testified€that€on€March€24,€1997,€the€day€theŠ X Ø Špolice€and€fire€department€were€banging€on€the€fellowship€hall€doors,€he€did€not€hear€anything.€Š D!” ŠWhen€the€police€and€firemen€finally€entered,€the€time€was€11:00€a.m.€and€it€was€a€Monday.€€TheŠ 0"€  Šchildren€were€all€still€in€their€bedclothes€and€lying€around,€however,€because€everyone€was€ill€thatŠ #l! Šday.€€Š $X" ŠĢą  ąCindy€Combs€was€twenty€years€old€at€the€time€of€trial€and€the€fourth€oldest€child€in€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠCombs€family.€€With€regard€to€the€childrenššs€sleeping€arrangements,€preparation€of€meals,€choreŠ Ģ&"% Šassignments,€punishment,€and€Estherššs€frequent€participation€in€home„schooling€and€playtime,€herŠ ø'#& Štestimony€essentially€mirrored€that€of€her€older€brothers,€James€and€David.€€She€also€testified€thatŠ ¤(ō#' Šshe€had€never€seen€Esther€without€clothes€and€that€she€had€no€knowledge€regarding€any€abuse€orŠ )ą$( Šmolestation€of€Esther.€€With€regard€to€Estherššs€injuries,€Cindy€corroborated€Davidššs€testimony€thatŠ |*Ģ%) Šhe€accidentally€elbowed€Esther€in€the€eye€while€playing.€€Another€time,€Cindy€saw€Esther€get€hit€onŠ h+ø&* Šthe€forehead€with€a€bat€during€a€baseball€game.€€Cindy€was€also€specifically€asked€whether€she€hadŠ ° Šwitnessed€the€specific€incidents€which€gave€rise€to€the€individual€counts€against€the€Defendants.€€SheŠ œģ Šreplied€negatively€to€all€questions.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąCindy€testified€that€on€the€evening€of€February€17,€1997€(the€day€before€Esther€was€taken€toŠ `° Šthe€hospital),€she€and€David,€Esther,€Peter,€and€Sarah€all€began€to€feel€sick€and€went€to€bed.€Š L œ ŠSometime€later,€Cindy€woke€up€and€saw€Esther€running€in€the€direction€of€the€bathroom.€€Cindy€ranŠ 8 ˆ Šafter€her.€€She€found€Esther€in€the€bathroom€with€the€door€shut.€€A€few€minutes€later,€she€heard€aŠ $ t Šbanging€sound.€€Cindy€woke€up€Peter€first.€€Later,€they€woke€up€David,€who€removed€Esther€fromŠ  ` Šthe€bathroom.€€Cindy€dialed€911.€€While€they€were€waiting€for€emergency€medical€personnel€toŠ ü L  Šarrive,€Esther€stopped€breathing€a€few€times€and€began€to€thrash€around.€€The€family€became€nervousŠ č 8  Šwhen€the€ambulance€did€not€come€quickly.€€They€moved€her€to€the€van€for€transport€to€the€hospital.€Š Ō$  ŠShortly€thereafter,€the€ambulance€arrived.Š Ą  ŠĢą  ąPeter€and€Sarah€Combs,€the€second€youngest€and€the€youngest€of€the€Combs€children,Š ˜č  Šrespectively,€gave€testimony€essentially€similar€to€that€related€by€the€three€other€siblings.€€Peter,Š „Ō  Šfifteen€years€old€at€the€time€of€trial,€testified€that€Esther€was€home„schooled,€along€with€the€rest€ofŠ pĄ Šthe€children,€and€that€Esther€was€able€to€read€and€write.€€Peter€claimed€that€he€and€Esther€read€booksŠ \¬ Štogether€and€that€Esther€wrote€short€stories.€€According€to€Peter,€Esther€slept€in€the€same€room€asŠ H˜ Šthe€other€children,€she€did€not€serve€food€to€the€rest€of€the€family,€she€was€not€responsible€forŠ 4„ Šcleaning€up€after€meals,€she€was€not€assigned€more€chores€than€any€other€member€of€the€family,€andŠ  p Šshe€was€not€considered€the€family€servant.€€Peter€further€claimed€that€punishment€for€all€of€theŠ  \ Šchildren€consisted€of€š šgrounding.šš€€He€never€saw€Esther€being€whipped,€beaten,€or€starved.€€EstherŠ ųH Šwas€allowed€to€do€the€same€things€the€rest€of€the€children€did,€to€wit:€she€watched€television€andŠ ä4 Šmovies,€played€Nintendo,€talked€on€the€telephone,€went€to€the€mall€and€the€park,€rode€her€b