A Florida couple has been accused of abusing one of their adopted children by locking him in the garage from the outside regularly over the course of five years.
46-year-old Tracy Ferriter and her husband Timothy Ferriter, also 46, reside in the Egret Landing community in Jupiter, Florida. They are the adoptive parents of four children.
One of their children is a 14-year-old boy.
It was reported that at the end of January, the teenager ran away from home. The authorities were notified about the missing child.
Law enforcement went to the home, and Tracy reportedly initially denied them entry. She eventually allowed detectives into the residence.
While they looked around the house, the police reported that they saw an 8×8 enclosed structure inside the garage. It was noted that a doorknob and a deadbolt were on the outside of the enclosure, in addition to a working light switch.
When Tracy was asked about it, the woman allegedly said the space was a makeshift office that is also used as a storage area.
When detectives searched the inside of the structure, they reported that there was a box spring on the floor with a mattress laid on top of it. They also said there was a bucket that appeared to be a makeshift toilet. A video camera was allegedly hanging over the bed.
After two days, the teen was found at his school. When the authorities asked him why he left home, the boy reportedly told them that he was afraid of his parents and he felt unloved. He reportedly begged the police to take him into custody because he preferred prison over being locked in the garage.
The authorities continued to investigate, and they reported that they believed the teen was locked in the structure for most of the hours that he was not at school.
The children were all removed from the home by CPS.
The Ferriters were arrested and booked into the county jail on aggravated child abuse charges. They are each being held on a $50,000 bond.
It was reported that the couple said the child has reactive attachment disorder, which prevents him from forming a proper connection with his caregivers. It was suggested that the Ferriters locked the boy in the garage because they believed he was misbehaving due to the disorder.
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.