Police responded to a call at the residence of a Nevada couple and discovered a distressing situation. Upon arrival, they found that the couple had confined their 11-year-old child in a sizable metal enclosure. This alarming incident led to the subsequent arrest of the parents.
Misty Scanlan, aged 46, and Jeffery Scanlan, aged 41, were apprehended by the Henderson Police Department and charged with one count of child abuse and neglect, as stated in a press release. The arrest occurred when police officers responded to a truancy report from the school district at the Scanlan residence around 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday. According to CBS affiliate KLAS-TV, the school officer had visited the home after a child had been absent from school and heard screams emanating from within the house. Seeking assistance, the truant officer called for backup from the police.
According to the father, the boy, who had “severe Autism spectrum disorder,” was found in an enclosure with feces smeared on his diaper. The father claimed that the cage was used to manage the boy’s outbursts. During the incident, there were three other children present in the house. One of the children informed the police that the enclosure had been in the house for two years, while the father stated that it had been there for six years.
Child protective services intervened and took custody of the three remaining children. As reported by KLAS, the 11-year-old child was subsequently taken to the hospital.
The Scanlans were taken into custody and later released on a $5,000 bond the following day, as indicated by online court records. They are expected to make a court appearance in May.
