Life felonies filed against Boatrites in child abuse case

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Quincy couple, now face escalated life felony charges after Branch County Prosecutor Zach Stempien added counts of first-degree child abuse during their preliminary examination in district court.

The new charges against 34-year-old Matthew Boatrite and 32-year-old Cassandra Boatrite  stem from allegations that the pair caused severe psychological harm to four biological children and three foster children at their Quincy home last year.

Matthew Boatrite also faces an additional felony count of false imprisonment for reportedly holding a foster child at gunpoint and by the neck during a confrontation. Previously, the couple faced multiple counts of second-degree child abuse—carrying up to 10 years each—along with other charges including physical assaults like choking, hitting with belts and boards, and forcing children to drink dish soap until they vomited, then making them drink water to induce more vomiting as punishment for minor misbehavior.

The prosecutor upgraded the charges to first-degree after reviewing case law and evidence of psychological harm, despite the original focus on physical abuse.

All seven children provided consistent accounts during recorded interviews totaling 20 hours, according to authorities, and also reported verbal abuse. Michigan State Police arrested the couple on December 18 following a Child Protective Services report and investigation; Matthew was a former reserve Quincy police officer, and Cassandra a former Quincy school bus driver. The children have since been placed with relatives or new foster families.

Both defendants waived their preliminary examination, with a pretrial conference set for March 2 in circuit court.

They remain held on $200,000 bond each.

No new plea offers have been extended since the life felonies were added; Matthew now faces 24 pending charges, and Cassandra 19.