A 4-year-old boy diagnosed with autism was discovered locked in a room attempting to create artwork using his feces. His parents were taken into custody after law enforcement officers uncovered the distressing situation while responding to a reported altercation between the couple.
Joshua Vincent Moore, aged 40, and Kayla Renee Spruill, aged 37, were charged with neglecting their child’s safety, specifically endangering their autistic and non-verbal son, who was reportedly confined in a room secured with dual gates.
The incident unfolded when their 18-year-old daughter contacted the authorities regarding a potential domestic violence dispute between her parents. During the investigation, the daughter led officers to a room secured by two gates in place of a standard door. Inside, they found the young boy, described as nonverbal and autistic. The daughter disclosed to law enforcement that her parents had confined the child in the room for his protection.
The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that the boy was discovered unclothed with blue marks on his feet and mouth. Authorities observed food on the bed and noted that the child had been attempting to paint the walls using his feces.
As per reports, the daughter revealed that she had been instructed to stay home from school to look after her brother due to her father’s work commitments and her mother’s absence. She also mentioned that physical altercations between her parents were not uncommon.
Spruill confessed that she and Moore locked their son in the bedroom as a safety precaution. Following the detection of alcohol on Spruill’s breath, a breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.1, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08. She admitted to consuming wine at a friend’s house before returning home the next day.
In contrast, Moore informed deputies that he woke up at 3:30 a.m., smoked marijuana, and left for work, returning home around 1:30 p.m.
According to their daughter, it was routine for her parents to use marijuana, engage in video games, and leave her brother unattended in the locked room.
Both Moore and Spruill were apprehended and are currently detained at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on $25,000 cash bonds. A preliminary hearing for the couple is scheduled for March 13.