HAMBURG, Iowa — Fremont County deputies arrested an Iowa mother and father for neglect and abandonment of a dependent person and child endangerment after discovering a 4-year-old in “a mixture of both human and animal feces.”
On Thursday, deputies found the 4-year-old inside a residence in Hamburg, Iowa.
Another child was also found inside the home, and both were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Deputies allege that Dustin Perry, 26, and Lindsey Hamilton, 26, from Shenandoah left their children with relatives, instructing them to keep the 4-year-old, who has developmental disabilities, in “a makeshift cage.”
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, the cage was constructed from a pack-and-play and a baby gate, held together with zip ties.
The child managed to escape without anyone noticing.
Deputies also found a similar cage in a walk-in closet in the Shenandoah home.
Both Perry and Hamilton were charged with felony neglect or abandonment of a dependent person and misdemeanor child endangerment.
Additional charges are pending in the case.
