ROY, Utah, March 26, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Police investigators in Weber County say two Roy foster parents are behind bars accused of “intentionally inflicting serious injuries” on their three adopted sons.
Roy Police Sgt. Matthew Gwynn told Gephardt Daily that Diana Siefert Waldmiller, 41, and her husband, Matthew Earl Waldmiller, 40, were taken into custody March 17 after police — acting on tip — went to the couple’s home.
Once inside, investigators say they found four children: three boys, ages 7 to 11, and a 2-year-old girl.
The boys, police say, were confined to a first-floor bedroom, where they spent up to 13 hours a day lying on three bare mattresses. They were malnourished and showed signs of physical abuse, including ligature marks around their wrists from being routinely bound with zip ties. They also showed signs of having their mouths and eyes duct-taped shut.
Investigators say the room the boys were held in had no lights. The windows were screwed shut and had been painted black — retribution for an earlier escape which ended when the boys were found dumpster diving for food behind a nearby school.
Gwynn said the boys were often punished by being served heavily salted rice laced with cayenne pepper, and they weren’t allowed to drink water after 2 p.m.
He said the boys were also denied access to a bathroom and resorted to relieving themselves in a furnace vent.
“These things do happen from time to time, sadly, but it has been a long time since I’ve seen something like this,” Gwynn said.
Gwynn said Diana and Matthew Waldmiller are longtime foster parents and had actually adopted the boys after providing foster care for them.
The 2-year-old girl found inside the home was also being fostered by the Waldmillers. Police say she showed no signs of abuse. The girl, along with the three boys, have been placed protective custody.
The Waldmillers are being held in the Weber County Jail on felony child abuse charges.
Bond in both cases is set at $31,500 each.
“couple’s home”, not “couples’ home”
The police knew about it in November and just barely removed them from the home?! I’d like to point out this couple had two children that died Isaac and Swazie as you can see in conversations when you look at the father’s FB. What I want to know is how this couple were able to do this to these kids and work as Foster parents for the state? These two need to have more than probation. They were slowly torturing these children premeditated murder! Makes me sick!