Sick mom and BF who handcuffed teen twins and made them do horrifying things nabbed after victims escape
If you or anyone you know suspects child abuse, you are urged to immediately call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: A 40-year-old mother, Zaikiya Duncan, along with her 27-year-old boyfriend, Jova Terrell, were arrested Tuesday, Oct 18, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on charges of injury to a child. Duncan confined her 16-year-old twins, a boy, and a girl in a Texas home and along with her boyfriend forced them to drink their own urine while they lived surrounded by their own feces. However on Monday, Oct 17, the twins fled the home, KHOU reports.
The 16-year-old twins ran door to door through the neighborhood for half an hour pleading for help before a neighbor called 911 to help them. According to the New York Post, the twins had just moved into a house in the neighborhood and couldn't give police their address. By the time cops arrived, the mother, boyfriend, and all five of their other siblings, ages 7 to 14, had left the house.
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The police later stated that one of their siblings, who is 18 years old, is still with the mother and boyfriend. According to KHOU, the twins reached out to a neighbor after being harshly abused, the boy was shirtless and the twins came barefoot and were shivering continuously. "They were so skinny and so frail. They just looked like they had been through a lot. They told me that their mom kept them locked in the laundry room, naked, zip tied from the ankles and handcuffed from the wrist," said the woman who helped the twins. Both were malnourished, and the boy previously suffered a fractured bone due to their abuse, claimed the police.
"They would only feed them a sandwich, only if they were quiet the whole day if they made any type of noise they wouldn’t be fed, how a mother could do this to her kids and... I feel like my tears are out of frustration anger and sadness," the woman claimed. All seven children have been placed in child Protective Service custody, officials said.
An amber alert was issued to find out the mother and her boyfriend by the police and subsequently got arrested. The Facebook post of Ted Heap, Harris County Constable Precinct 5 read, "AMBER ALERT, Texas Center for the Missing has issued a Houston Regional AMBER ALERT on behalf of the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office for 5 children: Nicholas Menina, 7-years-old male DOB 11/15/14, Zayden Menina, who is a 10-year-old male, DOB 12/01/12, Jovion Menina, who is a 12-year-old male, DOB 02/12/11, Javier Menina, who is a 12-year-old male, DOB 02/12/11, Jarod Menina, who is a 14-year-old male, DOB 04/06/08."
The post continued, "It is also believed that the children's 18-year-old brother, Jamerian Robinson DOB 03/05/05, is with the missing children and his mother and stepfather. The children were last seen on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at approximately 5.30 am, at 8703 Marina Alto Ln, Cypress, TX 77433. The missing children may be in a silver Outlander Mitsubishi bearing a Louisiana License Plate 234EUF."
It also stated, "Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of the missing children should contact Harris County Precinct 5 Constables Dispatch Office at 281-463-6666. #constabletedheap #yourconstable. Connect with Precinct 5 here, Facebook: Ted Heap, Harris County Constable Precinct 5, Instagram: Ted.Heap.Constable, Twitter: @HCpct5."
Another Facebook post of the police claimed, "Biological Mom Zaikiya Duncan and her boyfriend Jova Terrell are in the process of being charged with Injury to a Child (1st Degree Felony). They are currently on the run with 5 of her children and need to be located. An Amber Alert has been issued," along with a picture of the suspect vehicle. Meanwhile, the authorities confirmed that the duo has been arrested, "UPDATE - Captured by Louisiana State Police moments ago. Only one child was with them. The suspects said they dropped the children off at a relative's house. That is being checked out as we speak."
According to Click2houston.com, the five children were later found safe at the relative's home “They’ve been here for about two weeks so they’re definitely new as well. They moved in about two weeks ago,” neighbor Krisjen Hurd said. “We didn’t speak when they first moved in, but as I said, the child went to school with my brother so we had a few conversations.” The portal also reported that Duncan has a history of child abuse, according to 2012 Louisiana court records. As per the records, it was revealed that one of her 5-year-old was taken from school to treat for burns. There were burns on the genitals, feet, and other parts of the body. Doctors determined the child, who also had bruises on his body, was likely burned by hot water.
The child also slept on a closet floor with boards in front of the door to stop them from “escaping and stealing food from the kitchen.” Meanwhile, after the child was found with burns, police reached their home only to find out their 20-month-old infant wrapped in clothing with its hands bound. Back then when she was questioned, she admitted to forcing one of her children to hold a push-up position for up to an hour and letting their hands swell. Duncan was then charged with cruelty to juveniles. All seven children are currently placed in child Protective Service custody, officials said.