A couple from Arizona has been arrested on child abuse charges and authorities say that it is probable that they were imprisoned in their bedrooms for more than two years. The children were living under their mother and stepfather.
The girls who are siblings aged, 12, 13 and 17 were rescued by the Tucson police. The police went to a neighbor’s home from where two of the youngest girls, who broke free, called the police.
Tucson Police Capt. Michael Gillooly told the media that all the girls were dirty and malnourished and didn’t have a bath in six months. “They were kept in filthy living conditions” said Gillooly.
The 17-year old was kept in a separate bedroom away from the other two girls. The children told their neighbor that they had run when their stepfather kicked their door and threatened them with a knife. The neighbor called 911.
Neighbors were unaware that children were living at the home, which was off the street, though there were sometimes reports of sounds of children playing at night.
When the police went in, the 17-year old girl was found in another bedroom than the one where the other two children lived.
The stepfather has been accused of one count of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 15.
More news is expected, but so far other charges include child-emotional abuse and child physical abuse.
The children told the police that they were given food only once a day, and were not allowed to live their bedrooms for past several months and possibly up to two years. They seem to have lost track of time.