A shocking case came to light when a truancy officer visited the home of a Nevada family after their 11-year-old son with autism had been absent from school. It was discovered that the parents had been keeping the boy locked in an enclosure resembling a jail cell for a period of six years.
Jeffery Scanlan and Misty Scanlan have admitted to a misdemeanor child neglect charge, according to online court records.
On April 23, the case was brought to attention when a truancy officer visited the boy’s house to inquire about his prolonged absence from school.
According to a police report obtained by local CBS affiliate KLAS, the truancy officer informed the police that there was no response at the door. However, they could hear a child screaming and a gate rattling from inside.
After approximately 40 minutes, Jeffery Scanlan opened the door and informed the police that his children had been absent from school due to illness, as stated in the report. When the officer requested permission to enter and verify the well-being of the children, the defendant consented. Inside the living room, the officer observed a sizable enclosure with metal bars and secured doors, resembling a confinement akin to a jail cell, according to the report.
According to Misty Scanlan, she had ceased cleaning the enclosure for a period of three weeks, explaining that they had been extremely busy during that time.
Jeffery Scanlan has identified the boy as his son and mentioned that his son has severe autism spectrum disorder. According to the report, there were three other children inside the premises. Out of the four children, one had to be hospitalized, while the remaining three were taken into custody by Child Protective Services and placed with family members.
The officer observed that the house was in a state of “extreme disarray” and had a strong smell of feces. According to the report, one of the bedrooms lacked furniture, had holes in the walls, and was filled with trash. Additionally, there were feces on both the walls and the floor of the room. The report also mentioned that the exterior lock of the room couldn’t be opened from inside.
According to local NBC affiliate KSNV, police reported that Jeffery and Misty admitted to doing their best to handle the situation they were facing. However, it was evident from their statements that they had not made sufficient efforts to obtain or seek assistance for the challenges they were facing with their children.
According to the agency, the couple admitted that they were making efforts to cope with their situation. However, it is evident from their statements that they consistently neglected to obtain or seek assistance for the challenges they faced with their children.
According to online court records, the sentencing for the individuals is scheduled for March.
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