Nevada parents arrested after autistic son found in caged filth
On Tuesday, in a Nevada home, police discovered an 11-year-old boy, likely on the autism spectrum, confined in a metal cage and surrounded by feces on the floor, wearing only a diaper. His caregivers were subsequently arrested.
The police initially visited the couple's home to inquire about the boy's absence from school. The father took 40 minutes to answer the door, presenting the officers with a distressing scene upon entry. They encountered an 11-year-old boy confined within a large, metal-barred cage that resembled a prison cell, locked inside, and sitting amongst feces smears. He was dressed solely in a diaper.
The father explained that the boy had "a serious disorder from the autism spectrum," claiming the confinement was a means to manage his bouts of anger. Three other children were found living in the home during this discovery.
One child revealed to the police that the "pen" had been a fixture in the home for two years, contradicting the father's claim of six years. The mother stated that she attempted to clean both the bedroom and the cage on a weekly basis.
The couple to face trial in May
Child protective services have taken the three other children into foster care. Meanwhile, the 11-year-old has been hospitalized.
Court documents reveal the couple was arrested but released the following day on a $5,000 bond. They are expected to stand trial in May.
