TOQUERVILLE, Utah, Jan. 12, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — It’s a story that shocked the nation, and it happened right here in the small Washington County city of Toquerville.
In a case described as “horrific,” a 12-year-old boy was discovered Jan. 8 after being locked in a dark, feces-filled bathroom for a year or more and starved until he weighed a scant 30 pounds.
The child was taken to a hospital and his mother has been booked into jail.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday it has received numerous requests from people wishing to help.
“Requests to provide donations, cards, letter and gifts have been received from individuals throughout the country,” the news release said. “Although this type of effort would not be typically coordinated by the Sheriff’s Office, we have identified a point of contact for individuals wishing to help.”
Agency contact information for anyone wishing to assist is: Washington County Children’s Justice Center, 463 E. 500 South, St. George, Utah 84770. The phone number of the Justice Center is 435-634-1134. The contact email address is: Help4kids@washco.utah.gov.
Lt. David Crouse said the boy has been locked up for at least one year, maybe two. His father, who does not live at the residence, took the child to a local hospital, where the boy is expected to remain for at least three weeks, while he regains some of his strength.
According to a probable cause statement, a doctor at the Dixie Regional Medical Center called it “the worst case of malnutrition he has ever seen.” The boy weighs one-third the average weight for a 12-year-old boy in America.
The boy’s mother, Brandy K. Jaynes, 36, of La Verkin, was charged Monday in 5th District Court with child abuse causing serious injury, which is a second-degree felony. Additional charges may be filed.
According to the probable cause statement, the child was brought to Dixie Regional Medical Center after his father found the boy locked in an upstairs bathroom that was hidden by sheets hung on the wall.
“He (the father) said he pulled down the sheets and saw the door had two latches at the top that were in the latched position (locked),” the statement says. “He said he found his son laying on the floor of the bathroom with a blanket. He stated he took his son out of the home and later brought him to the hospital.”
After a judge approved a search warrant, officers went to the home, in Toquerville.
“During a search of the home, detectives located an upstairs bathroom that the victim’s mother admitted to being the room the victim stayed in,” the statement continues.
The statement said officers found a few empty bean cans and a spoon in the shower. The shower’s drain was covered with duct tape, and the light switch reportedly had been taped in the “off” position.
“The victim’s mother stated her son wanted to sleep in this bathroom. She stated she would occasionally lock her son in the bathroom for his safety when she would leave the house. She also stated she was attempting to feed her son protein drinks to get his weight up.”
The boy reportedly was taken out of school three years ago. His two siblings continued to go to school, and showed no signs of abuse.
This is so disturbing and breaks my heart. Why wasn’t the school somewhat responsible?
Please tell they have been questioned. This is an outrage.
I would like to know the victims name? Only a photo should be withheld. Why didn’t the school system check on him? Where was the government agency? Did his father live in the house? I have seen it reported both ways? I want to keep up with this case, this shouldn’t happen in America or anywhere!