WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT A man and a woman have been arrested after they allegedly subjected their own children to a campaign of torture and abuse, including making them stand with nails between their toes
A man and a woman have been arrested after allegedly torturing nine kids and making them sleep in cages. Jonathan Parr, 37, and Jacqueline Coleman, 32, are accused of carrying out a campaign of child abuse from inside a property in Licking County, Ohio.
Police described finding ‘deplorable’ conditions inside a trailer home but refused to go into detail with a spokesperson saying: “The living conditions in that trailer were horrific”.
According to court documents, the trailer was infested with bugs, while around four children were forced to sleep in a makeshift shed. Local Child Protective Services (CPS) describe finding evidence of “physical abuse, including failure to provide food and waste”.
The report also cites “insufficient living space” with at least four of the children reportedly made to sleep in a makeshift shed next door.
Perhaps most disturbingly were the descriptions, via CPS, of the alleged torture the children appeared to have been subjected to. This included being forced to stand for hours on end with “nails between their toes” as well as being “locked behind cages or barriers”.
The victims are believed to be aged between one and twelve. Although it is unclear whether all nine are biological children of both Parr and Coleman.
A 64-year-old woman, believed to be the grandmother of the nine kids, also lived on the property. It is not clear if she could face any charges.
According to Licking County Sheriff’s Department Captain Jay Cook the physical abuse was “punishment, and sometimes, it was for no reason at all.
“They would have to stand with their back pressed against the wall, like a wall-squat type situation. It was reported that they would have to sometimes stand there all day.”
Parr denied all allegations during his court hearing yesterday (October 14), saying: ““It’s not true. I didn’t keep anybody in cages or [commit] any of the other charges. I love my kids. I would die for my kids.”
Parr and Coleman have both received third-degree felony child endangerment charges, which carry a maximum of three years in prison, although at this stage it is still possible more charges will be filed.