Kentucky couple starved adopted child, kept him locked in boarded-up room with bucket as toilet
A couple from Kentucky has been accused of starving and neglecting their 12-year-old adopted son by locking him in his bedroom with only a bucket inside to use as a toilet, reports state. Authorities launched an investigation into the parents, Marvin Reynolds and Laura Reynolds, after their son allegedly ran away from their home on Tuesday, April 14, and was found by emergency workers.
Marvin and Laura of Ben Fugate Road in the Schochoh community were arrested and booked into the Logan County Detention Center after an investigation lead by the Logan County Sheriff's Department and Logan County Department of Community Based Services (DCBS) found evidence of child abuse.
According to an arrest warrant, the parents of the child did not report him missing until nearly three and a half hours after he left the house, the News-Democrat & Leader reported. Deputies Shaun Embry and Ed Higgins reported to the scene after receiving information about the case from Captain Clint Wright, all of the sheriff's department, stating the 12-year-old was being abused.
It was later revealed that the child had allegedly been living in squalid conditions, where he was often locked inside his room the whole day with no access to the bathroom. He reportedly had a 2x4 lumber nailed to his window to restrict his movement.
A police report stated that other members of the family allegedly told authorities that the boy was "treated like an animal" since he was adopted by the couple at the age of 5. The child's brothers, who also live in the same house, confirmed other family members' witness statements, adding that their brother was also starved, and was just fed once a day.
After the detectives received permission to enter the house, they noticed the house was clean until they reached the child's bedroom. They found a stench of urine and feces emanating from the room. The Reynolds reportedly told deputies that the putrid smell was caused by their son urinating and defecating on the floor. The wood floor of the child's bedroom was heavily stained, however, it was because they had removed a carpet which was previously soiled.
The arrest warrant stated that the 12-year-old had just a single twin mattress to himself with no box spring or bed frame inside the room. After the detectives asked why the child's window was boarded up, the parents said that they had nailed plywood on his windows because he had attempted to leave their home. They added that the boy, however, had ripped the wood off and destroyed his room. When the detectives further probed if the child was locked in the room, his adopted mother, Laura, said that only the child could lock his bedroom door.
The deputies said that a police investigation also showed evidence of malnourishment, neglection, and unlawful imprisonment of their adopted child inside the bedroom. They both face charges of criminal abuse, unlawful imprisonment, and wanton endangerment.
The latest reports state that they have been released after posting $10,000 bond each on Thursday, April 16.