A five-year-old boy was found naked wandering the streets after escaping a room barricaded with zip ties, leading to charges against his mother, her boyfriend and his grandmother.
The youngster managed to escape the property in Township, near Philadelphia, prompting the arrest of two family members. Investigators allege the child was trapped inside a dirty bedroom against his will.
Room barricaded with baby gate and zip ties
The room's doorway was blocked with a baby gate held together with duct tape and zip ties, topped with wooden boards, police allege. Food and rubbish were allegedly scattered throughout the floor, with the walls and window stained with what appeared to be human faeces.
The rest of the property appeared in "hoarder conditions", according to Pennsylvania State Police. Officers noted "trash throughout", "hundreds of flies" and "limited room for manoeuvring the house" due to the "clutter".
Charges and court dates
The alleged victim's mother Jade Shuey, 21, her boyfriend Tucker Heagy, also 21, and grandmother Stephan Schaffner, 42, were all charged. The list of alleged offences includes child endangerment, aggravated assault against a child under 13, unlawful restraint of a minor and conspiracy to endanger a child.
Shuey also faces a new charge of conspiracy to obstruct a child abuse investigation. Stephan Schaffner also faces the new charge, plus a previous allegation of endangering the welfare of a child.
Lebanon County district attorney Pier Hess Graf said the child "lived in hell" behind caged bars. "Every second of every minute of every day, that child deserved a better life and maternal love," he added.
Additional suspects detained
Two additional suspects with an unknown relationship to the household have also been detained. Scott Schaffner, 59, and Cathy Schaffner, 62, voluntarily surrendered themselves to authorities on September 29, according to reports.
The pair were charged with criminal conspiracy to commit child endangerment and criminal conspiracy to commit obstruction in a child abuse case. They were both released on bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 22. The other three defendants will face a jury trial on November 16.
