Parents arrested after 10 children found sleeping on the floor and living in horrible conditions
Two parents have been arrested with 10 children removed from their custody after police found the kids living in squalid conditions in their Northern California home.
Jonathan Allen, 29, was arraigned Monday on felony torture and child abuse charges and the mother, Ina Rogers, 30, faces child neglect charges.
Police allege the children in their care range from four months to 12 years old living in what Lieutenant Greg Hurlbut described as “squalid and unsafe conditions”.
Lt Hurlbut alleged the children had puncture wounds, burns, bruises and injuries consistent with being shot with a pellet gun.
Police said the children have told of several incidents of intentional abuse dating back to 2014.
Lt Hurlbut also told ABC News 7 police found garbage and spoiled food on the floor with animal and human faeces. The officer added areas of the home are “unpassable” due to the “large amount of debris”.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Sharon Henry said the torture was carried out “for sadistic purposes”.
Concerned neighbour Larry Magney told the San Francisco Chronicle the couple moved in about a year ago and added he was shocked to learn 10 children lived in the home.
Rogers called police in March after her 12-year-old son didn’t come home. It was at this point authorities saw inside the family home.
But the 30-year-old alleged the “squalor” officers saw when investigating the missing-child report was her tearing apart the house as she searched for her son.
She’s been released on bail. Allen is being held on US$1.5 million bail.
