Parents face jail after son tries to sell stuffed toy after not eating for days
The parents of a seven-year-old boy are facing six months jail after they admitted to 10 counts of child endangerment.
According to the Sun, the Ohio couple's son was found trying to sell his stuffed toy dog for food.
Officer Steve Dunham discovered the boy, and was horrified when the child claimed he had not eaten for several days.
Officer Dunham bought the boy a sandwich from a nearby Subway.
Speaking to WLWT after the incident on August 11, Officer Dunham said the boy's story "broke his heart".
The boy's parents Tammy and Michael Bethel have since pleaded guilty in court and could face six months in jail.
They will be sentenced September 27 in Franklin Municipal Court, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Officers also discovered four other boys living at the family's home among bottles of alcohol, garbage, and cat urine.
The children have since been placed in the care of relatives.
Tammy Bethel has now set up a GoFundMe page to raise $25,000 for "a new house".
In a post of Facebook, Mrs Bethel blamed media coverage for the fact "no one will rent" to her.
"So I am trying to buy a home for $25,000 here in Franklin so the kids will not have to switch schools.
“Please help anyway possible if you can. It will be greatly appreciated and I would love to surprise the kids with the new home that is ours.”
Ms Bethel also posted an advertisement searching for a cleaner.
She claimed she was being denied help from the state, and that she suffered Parkinson's disease and "sinus tachycardia".
According to Tammy Bethel's lawyer David Chicarelli, his client will be allowed to see her children for "two hours a week with supervision."
News break – September 19
