FAIRFAX, Va. — A mother and her partner have been charged with child abuse and child cruelty after police found two kids chained by the ankle in a northern Virginia apartment.
The 47-year-old mother and 29-year old man, who live in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, told police they would chain the 9-year-old boy and his 7-year-old sibling by the ankle to “’scare them’ so they wouldn’t leave the apartment,” according to court charging documents in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
The two were arrested Aug. 16. According to court records, the 9-year-old borrowed a cellphone from a roommate in the apartment, who is not charged. The 9-year-old used the phone to send a photo of his chained foot to an older sister, who called 911.
Police said when they knocked on the apartment door they could hear chains rattling in the apartment.
The roommate told police the two kids were routinely chained when both the 47-year-old and the 29-year-old were not home, according to a search warrant affidavit.
The boys are now in the custody of their father, who did not live in the apartment and was not charged, according to WRC-TV, which first reported on the arrests. He said his sons did not tell him when they visited him that they were being chained.
“When I heard, I was like, ’Wow, why did this happen?’ Children don’t deserve to be treated like this. We don’t have the right to treat them like this. Maybe a criminal, but not innocent children,” he told the station in Spanish.
Last month’s arrest was not the first time the mother’s parenting drew attention from authorities. Court records show that in 2019, a then-16-year-old daughter of the mother obtained an emergency protective order, and that the mother was charged with misdemeanor assault. The disposition of that case was not clear from juvenile court records.
The public defender’s office, which represents the mother, did not immediately return a call Tuesday morning seeking comment. A phone listed for the court-appointed attorney who represents the 29-year-old man was not working Tuesday.
The mother has been released while she awaits trial. The 29-year-old man remains jailed.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2.
A Virginia mother is facing charges of cruelty and neglect after authorities discovered her children chained in their apartment. The shocking discovery has left the community reeling and questioning how such a horrific situation could have gone unnoticed for so long.
The incident came to light when a concerned neighbor called the police to report suspicious activity at the apartment. When officers arrived on the scene, they were met with a heartbreaking sight – two young children, aged 6 and 8, chained to their beds with padlocks. The children were malnourished, dirty, and clearly in distress.
The mother, whose name has not been released to protect the identity of the children, was arrested on charges of child cruelty and neglect. She is currently being held in custody pending further investigation.
Neighbors and community members are shocked and saddened by the news, with many expressing disbelief that such a heinous act could happen in their own backyard. Some have questioned how the children could have been left in such a dire situation without anyone noticing or intervening sooner.
Child welfare advocates are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any signs of abuse or neglect they may see. They emphasize the importance of speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves and ensuring that all children are safe and protected.
The children have been removed from the home and are receiving medical care and counseling to help them recover from their traumatic ordeal. Authorities are working to determine the full extent of the abuse and neglect they suffered and to ensure that they are placed in a safe and loving environment.
This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of being aware of the signs of child abuse and neglect and speaking up when something doesn’t seem right. It is crucial that we all do our part to protect the most vulnerable members of our society and ensure that no child suffers in silence.
