A Kentucky couple faces multiple felony charges after police discovered their nonverbal children were allegedly locked inside a bedroom closet so frequently they had clawed the drywall until their fingers bled. Stephanie Harmer, 36, and Casey Farthing, 41, were arrested over the weekend and booked into the Madison County Detention Center on counts of first-degree criminal abuse, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and first-degree criminal mischief.
The investigation began when a landlord contacted the Richmond Police Department to report “deplorable conditions” left behind by the former tenants.
According to an arrest report, the apartment was littered with cockroaches, human feces, and dirty diapers, with damage to the property estimated at $2,500. While inspecting the residence, officers noted that several interior doors had been fitted with locks on the outside.
Inside one bedroom closet, police found bloody walls where the drywall had been torn away from the interior. Investigators later learned the couple lived in the home with their 5-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 8 and 9, both of whom have autism and are nonverbal.
During an interview with Kentucky Child Protective Services, the 5-year-old daughter reportedly told officials that “mommy and daddy lock the boys in the closet when they’re bad.”
A physical examination of the children revealed one child had a broken fingernail and hands covered in dried blood.
Additional evidence of neglect was cited in court documents, including reports that none of the three children had ever brushed their teeth and all were still wearing diapers.
While the parents told authorities the closet lock was present when they moved in, the landlord denied that claim.
READ: 2 Police Officers And Suspect Shot During Active Shooter Incident In Northwest Baltimore
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
