Ryan and Ellio Hardman starve 8 year old daughter who jumps window to end up begging at Arnoldsburg, West Virginia, Dollar store begging for food.
‘I’m hungry, my mom and dad don’t want me no more.’ The parents of an 8 year old girl have been arrested after she was discovered last week begging for food at a discount store in Arnoldsburg, West Virginia.
Ryan Keith Hardman and Ellio M. Hardman, both 33, were charged with neglect of a child after their daughter jumped out of a window clutching her teddy bear where she was soon after discovering begging for food at a Dollar Store.
Associates at the discount store raised the alarm after the un-named child walked into the outlet barefoot, holding her teddy bear pleading for food and water.
‘I’m hungry, my mom and dad don’t want me no more…’
The girl allegedly told store staff that her parents refused to feed her and often told her she was unwanted. She had only eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the last three days, given to her by one of her siblings.
One of the store workers, who has not been named, told WOWK-TV: ‘The little girl, she came through the store, just walked straight up to us was like, ‘I’m hungry, my mom and dad don’t want me no more, do you have anything I can eat?”
According to a criminal complaint, the child reportedly told staff that she escaped through her home’s window because her parents didn’t allow her to go outside.
The store staff provided her with snacks while they called police. Authorities found that the parents were unaware of the child’s absence and discovered drug paraphernalia at the family home.
A survey of the home led authorities finding enough ‘food in the cupboards, food pantry, refrigerator, and freezer for the entire family.’
Couples 4 children removed from the family home
The girl told deputies her parents told her she had an attitude and when they tell her she’s not being good they don’t want her, the criminal complaint said.
‘She felt dehydrated because she hadn’t drunk enough water and wanted to see if the Family Dollar had anything for her to eat,’ a police spokesperson said.
They added: ‘Her parents told her she had an attitude and when they think she has an attitude, they tell her she’s not being good and they don’t want her..’
Police also added: ‘This was not the first time they told her they didn’t want her.’
During questioning, the little girl expressed her strong reluctance to return home.
The 8-year-old was treated for pain and injuries suffered from jumping out of the window, ABC13 reported.
The girl and her three siblings were taken out of the home. The parents, are currently in custody on a cash-only bond of $100,000.
Both have been charged with child neglect with risk of serious bodily injury or death and conspiracy, according to criminal complaints filed in Calhoun County Magistrate Court.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
