An Indiana couple was arrested for allegedly neglecting, abusing, and abandoning a 13-year-old boy they adopted after they reportedly decided they no longer wanted him to live in their home.
According to reports, a married couple who live in LaPorte County with two children decided to adopt a child. The young teen was the eldest of the three kids living with the pair. Approximately six months ago, the adopted teen reportedly developed a behavioral problem that affected the other family members.
On July 5, someone called the Department of Child Services and reported the parents for alleged abuse and neglect. They were reportedly told that all three children were being hit with belts as punishment and that the teen took the brunt of the alleged abuse. The caller let them know that they believed the boy was being forced to live in a trailer outside the house in the winter and was not properly fed.
The following day, the couple decided to drop off the boy at the Memorial Epworth Center in South Bend for a psychiatric evaluation. The facility decided to put him on a one-week hold so they could try to determine what was going on, and what further services he might need. When his time at the center was done, they called his adoptive parents so they could pick up the child, but they reportedly said they refused to let him back into their residence.
Upon further investigation, the authorities also reported that they learned the teen was not allowed to use the bathroom but was instead given a plastic bag to use as a toilet.
Both parents were taken into custody and booked into the LaPorte County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bonds. Each of them is facing preliminary charges of two counts each of neglect of a dependent – abandoning or cruelly confining a dependent. According to records, they have since been released.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a domestic violence offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.