Two parents in Oklahoma were arrested after they were accused of child neglect, and it was revealed that they kept one of their children in a wooden box and placed another child in a playpen for 20 hours.
The District 21 District Attorney’s Office in Oklahoma announced that Sara Tudor and Michael Brown were arrested on Thursday, October 8, and have each been charged with three counts of child neglect.
Both Tudor, 46, and Brown, 43, were booked into the Garvin County Jail.
Authorities first became aware of the neglect on July 27 when a schoolteacher in Garvin County, Oklahoma, contacted the Oklahoma Department of Human Services about three children, who were 9, 8 and 4 years old. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said that the teacher had told state officials she “was concerned for their well-being,” according to Law & Crime.
The DA’s office was then informed about the situation and asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate what was happening to the children on July 31.
An investigation was then launched into the matter, and authorities identified Tudor and Brown as the children’s parents.
Human Services officials later “learned that one of the children was confined to a wooden box and the other was confined to a playpen for at least 20 hours,” according to authorities. “They also learned the children were not fed properly and did not receive showers or baths.”
State officials then took the children out of the home and placed them with foster families. The children were also medically evaluated, and professionals determined that “each suffered from psychological abuse due to confinement and infantilization.”
Authorities added that the children also “suffered from abuse due to the inadequate physical care and hazardous living conditions,” per the outlet.
The current conditions of the children are not currently known, while it has also not been revealed whether the siblings were put in the same foster home or separated.
It is not currently clear whether Tudor or Brown have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. The District 21 District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding updates in the case.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing as authorities work to learn more about the alleged abuse.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
