Three adults in Arizona have been charged in the death of a six year old boy, according to NBC News. Police in Flagstaff say the boy’s parents and grandmother admitted to punishing him and his seven year old brother by keeping them in a closet for much of the time over about a month.
NBC News reported that Anthony, 23, Elizabeth, 26, and Ann Marie, 50, are being held on one count of first degree homicide and two counts each of child abuse. These are charges, not convictions, and the case had not gone to trial at the time of this report.
Bossip reported that officers were called to the home on Monday about an unresponsive child. Officers tried to save the boy, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the adults told investigators the boys were being punished for sneaking out at night to take food, and that food was withheld from them.
Officers noted that both boys appeared severely malnourished. The surviving seven year old was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center and is now in the care of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Two other children in the home, ages four and two, were also placed with the department. Authorities said those two children did not appear malnourished and that the four year old attended school regularly.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and that they are speaking with relatives and neighbors to learn what people knew and how long the abuse went on. A response from the defendants’ attorneys was not included in the reports we reviewed.
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