What prompted Richard and Cynthia Kelly to abuse and starve their adopted teen son and isolate the boy for extended period of time at the family basement?
Richard and Cynthia Kelly a Helena, Alabama couple have been arrested after authorities came across their 14 year old adoptive son on the cusp of death after the boy had been locked in their home basement for the past two years.
According to Shelby County authorities, the child, who has not been named is in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital.
A report via Al.com cites police saying the child weighed less than half of what a boy his age should weigh at just 55 pounds (25 kilos).
Since charged with aggravated child abuse – a Class B felony, Richard and Cynthia Kelly remain incarcerated on $1million bail each.
According to arrest warrants, the couple are accused of denying food, nourishment and medical care to the boy, who was ‘subjected to forced isolation for extended periods of time’.
What prompted the unnamed teen to be locked away is yet to be necessarily understood. That said, police claim the parents saying the ‘isolation’ was ‘disciplinary’ in nature.
Define discipline?
Matters came to the fore after Helena police were notified after the child was admitted to hospital on Sunday.
Cops say the boy’s parents took the child to hospital when his condition deteriorated.
‘It’s the worst case of neglect that I have ever seen,’ police chief Pete Folmar said.
Told Shelby County District Attorney Jill Lee: ‘I am bound to remind everyone that they remain innocent until proven guilty,’
‘But this office will prosecute vigorously and to fullest extent the law will allow.’
The couple have another adopted child, but at 19, she is legally an adult. She lives in the same home but is fine notes a report via whnt19.com.
Helena Police would not say if or where the victim attended school but confirmed he was not enrolled at a public school in Helena.
The investigation is ongoing.
Helena police chief says 55-pound teen found in adoptive parent’s basement was ‘close to death’ https://t.co/1mZe24J6JP pic.twitter.com/KITKfghHS6
— ABC 33/40 News (@abc3340) November 15, 2016
