Two parents in Ohio have been accused of abusing nine children by locking them in cages and placing nails between at least one child’s toes so that they would stop “stealing food.”
The Licking County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release that Jonathan Parr and Jacquelyn Coleman were arrested on Tuesday, October 13, and charged with third-degree felony child endangerment over the alleged abuse.
On the day of their arrests, detectives searched their home in Etna Township after they received a referral from Child Protective Services about possible abuse and neglect.
Authorities learned that 12 people, ranging from 1 to 64 years old, lived at the property, and there were nine children that were between the ages of 1 and 13 years old. Parr, 37, has been identified as the biological father of seven of the children, while Coleman, 32, is the mother of all nine kids.
“Upon executing the search warrant, detectives encountered appalling and unsafe living conditions that raised serious concerns for the health, safety, and well-being of the children residing in the home,” police said in the release. “All nine juveniles were removed from the residence and placed in the custody of [CPS].”
The criminal complaint stated that the couple’s alleged abuse began on April 6, 2023, and continued until the day of their arrests.
“The referral outlined physical abuse, including failure to provide food and water, insufficient living space, and juveniles being forced to stand for hours with nails between their toes and locked behind cages or barriers,” the complaint said, according to Law & Crime.
Parr and Coleman have been accused of subjecting the children to “corporal punishment” and restraining them “in a cruel manner or for a prolonged period,” which “created a substantial risk of serious physical harm.”
The children detailed the alleged abuse to CPS workers, with one boy saying that he and his brother were “forced to stand against the wall, in a squatted position with their hands in the air for extended periods of time.”
“These wall squats are done daily, at all hours of the day, not just as a form of punishment,” the report read. “[The victim] reported that his stepfather, [Parr] had cameras pointed at the wall to make sure they were on the wall.”
The report also alleged that nails were placed between the children’s toes so they “would not move or lean to one side.”
Additionally, authorities reported that the home was in a “deplorable” state.
“The bathroom was an abomination,” a deputy wrote in the report. “The toilet was black from filth. There were dirty dishes covering the shower floor with bugs crawling over them.” Near the bathroom entrance, the deputy reported finding “a pile of what appeared to be green feces with bugs crawling in and out of it.”
Additionally, it was discovered that at least four of the children lived in a shed on the property with Parr and Coleman.
Parr has since denied the abuse allegations. “It’s not true. I love my kids. I would die for my kids,” he said while appearing in court, per WBNS.
Parr and Coleman are both in custody at Licking County Justice Center, and they are each being held on a $150,000 bond.
It is not currently clear if either Parr and Coleman have entered pleas following their arrests. The Licking County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding updates in the case.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
