Man Kept Own Son Locked Up In Basement For 2 Years For Stealing DVD

warrant-recardo-wimbush

A former NFL player kept his son locked in a small basement room for nearly two years, police have said.

Authorities said Recardo Wimbush (34) and his wife Therian (37) kept the child locked away in the room as punishment for stealing a family DVD player.

The case only came to light after the 13-year-old was set free from his makeshift cell. An anonymous tip led authorities to the house in Buford, Georgia where they found the young teen in a tiny room in the basement.

“The window had been painted over,” officer Jake Smith told WSB-TV.

“There was no light bulb outside. What was inside was a bucket that the child was using as a bathroom, a mattress and box spring.

“He was essentially being treated as a prisoner would be treated.”

Warrants for the parents’ arrest have been issued and they have until today to present themselves at a police station. They are charged with cruelty to children and false imprisonment.

The arrest warrant stated: “Therian and Recardo Sr. justified his treatment in Juvenile Court by saying the boy molested three of the younger siblings. The child stated he was locked in the bedroom located in the basement for taking the family DVD player and lying about it.”

Police found the couple’s nine other children moving freely in the upstairs area of the house but they mentioned nothing that would back up claims there was sexual abuse.

The 13-year-old told police he had been locked in the room since the beginning of 2013. He said he was fed but didn’t have access to books or films, he wasn’t allowed to interact with his siblings or have toys of any sort.

He didn’t attend school at all and was not let outside of the house.

All ten siblings have been placed in state custody.

SOURCE