A Texas man held his wife captive in a bedroom inside their $1.1 million mansion in Houston for five years, investigators say.
James Earl Johnson, 46, was arrested Friday and charged with injury to a disabled individual and abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, Harris County criminal court records revealed.
He allegedly kept his wife under lock and key in the home they shared with their adult children, according to a probable cause order obtained by the Daily Mail.
She did not have access to a phone or food. Johnson would leave her one egg a day and feed her some dinner, the documents allege.
The victim, identified only as a 46-year-old disabled woman, managed to call 911 on Friday after Johnson mistakenly left his phone on a nightstand in the bedroom.
He cut the call short, slapped his wife and carried her back to bed before hanging up on the 911 dispatcher, the court filings allege.
The victim was still hospitalized on Monday, her adult son told KTRK. He did not elaborate on the nature of her disability.
Johnson’s alleged behavior went undetected for years, with neighbors understood to have been unaware that the woman was being held hostage in the 6,783 square foot mansion.
James Earl Johnson, 46, has been charged with injury to a disabled individual and abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, court records revealed
He is accused of holding his wife captive in a bedroom in the $1 million Houston mansion that they share with their adult children for five years
The victim tried to contact police on at least one prior occasion, officials confirmed to the news outlet.
Officers responded to the residence on November 16 last year, but left without filing a report.
The victim allegedly claimed that she and her children were told to stay quiet and not speak to police.
Johnson was released from jail on a $50,000 bond, court records revealed. He has been ordered to stay away from the victim and their home.
He will be staying with a nephew in the interim and is due back in court on March 18.
If convicted of the charges he faces, Johnson could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay $10,000 in fines.
The Daily Mail has approached his public defender for comment.
Johnson currently works as a full time master electrician, earning $18,000 per month, the probable cause order stated.
He purchased the five bedroom, eight bathroom mansion in 2015, according to county property records. He has lived in the home with his wife for at least six years.
Court records show that Johnson’s wife took him to Harris County family court in 2001 and again in 2002 seeking child support.
The outcome of those cases remains unclear as the filings have been sealed.