• Home
  • News
    • Business
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Legislature
    • Politics / Govt
  • Sports
    • The Bill Pollock Show
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Missourinet

Your source for Missouri News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / OFallon couple charged for keeping autistic son in cage

OFallon couple charged for keeping autistic son in cage

March 18, 2013 By Jessica Machetta

An OFallon, Mo. couple has been charged with endangering the welfare of their child after police discovered they had been keeping their six-year-old autistic son in a cage in their basement, it was announced on March 15, 2013.

Photo courtesy UPI / OFallon Police Department

Photo courtesy UPI / OFallon Police Department

Police say Victoria and Terry Smith were charged with a fenony, endangering the welfare of a child, dating back to 2010. A tip to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline in 2010, said the boy was put in the cage when a care provider was not present.

Police discovered the boy, naked in the 3 foot by 6 foot crib with a plywood top held together with zip ties, laying in his own urine and feces. Police also say the boy’s siblings would feed him chicken nuggets and hot dogs through the bars.

The child was taken into protective custody but eventually was released back to the parents. The parents told police they had made the crib into a cage because it was the only way to prevent their son from hurting himself when he was left alone. Bail was set at $2,500 for each parent.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News

Subscribe to our daily newsletter


Tweets by Missourinet

Sports

Walks, errors doom Royals in loss to Rays

Brad … [Read More...]

Cardinals lose lead late, waste stellar Wainwright start

The St. … [Read More...]

Missouri State earns bearth into FCS Football Playoffs

For the … [Read More...]

Salvy’s blast sparks Royals past Blue Jays

Brady … [Read More...]

Cardinals offense shut down by Nola in loss to Phillies

Aaron Nola … [Read More...]

More Sports

Tweets by missourisports

Archives

Opinion/Editorials

TwitterFacebook

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC