A Missouri couple have been charged in what police say is one of the worst child abuse case they’ve ever investigated.
The investigation began months ago when one of their three children arrived at school with a significant cut, KMOV reported. When Amberly Britton and Mark Myers failed to respond to attempts to contact them, the Missouri Department of Social Services got involved.
Court documents say state investigators found kitchen cabinets and a refrigerator locked, noting that the children were refused regular access to food and that sometimes they broke the locks to eat.
Conditions inside the home were considered unsanitary. Mattresses had no bedding and a strong smell of urine permeated. The house also lacked heat and was considered uninhabitable.
But what they children themselves told investigators was truly shocking. Investigators spoke with two of them. A 13-year-old reported being severely punished after experiences pain and vomiting from hunger. Both reported they were regularly beaten and locked in their bedrooms.
Investigators said the locks on the bedroom doors required a fingerprint to open them.
“The children further reported that they were reqired to care for themselves and each other, including waking themselves, preparing food, and getting ready for school, due to the adults sleeping for extended periods and failing to provide supervision,” a probable cause statement says. “They described being subjected to physical discipline, including being struck with belts, paddles, and other objects, as well as being grabbed or dragged by the neck.”
Injuries they suffered were concealed, the document says, and the kids were told “not to disclose what occurred inside the home.” They said they feared “additional punishment” if they said anything.
Police said Britton and Myers blamed the children for the conditions they were living in and had no remorse, saying the kids regularly “lie.”
Both parents have previous convictions — Britton on five counts of endangering the welfare of a child and Myers for statutory rape, failure to register as a sex offender, and drug possession. It’s unclear how they were allowed to have children in such a home.
Investigators also found methamphetamine in the home.
“I would say this is definitely one of the worst cases that I have investigated. That our team has investigated. Just the level and extent of the neglect and the psychological factors that they put on these children,” Det. Sgt. Brian Adelsberger told KTVI.
The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged both Britton and Myers with second-degree trafficking drugs and three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. They are being held on $250,000 cash-only bonds each.
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[Featured image: Amberly Britton and Mark Myers/St Charles County Police Department]