Valerie and Melvin Cordell, two parents in Deming, New Mexico, have been accused of starving their seven children, forcing them to live in underground caves and sexually abusing at least one of the kids in what is now being called a “house of horrors.” The couple has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include child abuse and rape. As the Cordells await trial, Chief Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Clark exclusively tells In Touch that this is one of the worst cases she has seen in her career.

“I’ve been a prosecutor [for] a long time. I’ve been an attorney for 38 years, but it’s probably the most horrible case and the most traumatized victims I have ever worked with,” Clark tells In Touch Investigates’ Kristin Thorne. “I have to give a lot of credit to the state police officer, Antonio Carrillo, who’s been handling this case. He did a great job before we took office in really setting that rapport with our main witness, who’s 16.”

Prosecutors have said children ranging in age from 6 months old to 16 years old were found living year-round outside in an area similar to a “city trash landfill.” The children allegedly resided in broken-down cars or trailers, as well as in underground caves and tunnels. They were allegedly surrounded by trash buckets filled with human feces and animal skeletons.

Valerie, 41, and Melvin, 50, allegedly fed the children rotted food or starved them.

Police became involved after one of the kids, a teenager, told authorities that her father and other family members had been sexually abusing her for years. She claimed that her father performed two abortions on her at home and destroyed or hid the aborted fetuses.

Clark tells Thorne that Carrillo “set up [a] relationship” and established trust with the teenage victim after she came forward.

“When I entered into it with him, we worked really hard to get her trust, and that took so many meetings, hours of meetings, and she is amazingly strong, but so traumatized by years and years and years of this abuse,” Clark adds of the teen.

Clark says she has “no words to describe” the location that the children were living in after seeing it for herself.

“The location is like a landfill. There’s spoiled food and feces, as was stated, and the sleeping arrangements are in vehicles and the tunnels [are] really underground,” she says.

Meanwhile, District Attorney Norman Wheeler tells Thorne that his reaction to the case is one of “relief,” knowing that the Cordells’ alleged abuse was finally discovered and justice can be served.

“I am extremely grateful that state police got involved and this particular investigator got involved,” Wheeler continues. “He’s done a marvelous job on it, and we’re hoping that the children are going to be able to develop some sense of normalcy under these circumstances.”

Wheeler adds that there have been “hints” in the case that the children may have previously made the allegations to public officials, such as a school counselor, and received no follow-ups. However, he says this is “part of the ongoing investigation.”

Melvin and Valerie’s children are currently in protective custody with the state.