Washington, September 29: A Woman has been arrested after allegedly locking her son inside a house for nearly five years.
Police in the US say the 14-year-old boy spent most of his time locked in a bedroom closet inside the Oklahoma City home, the Associated Press reports.
He told police that he had been trapped at the home ever since his mother moved them both from New Jersey to Oklahoma 4 1/2 years ago.
He reportedly said that he spent most of his time inside a closet and the door had been blocked with a ladder or some furniture before he managed to get it open.
He escaped from the house last week and his body had signs of abuse “from head to foot” when authorities found him, Sergeant Gary Knight from Oklahoma County Police said.
He was found by a member of the National Guard on Friday wearing nothing but an oversized pair of shorts held up by a belt.
“He was hungry. He was dirty. He had numerous scars on his body,” Sgt Knight said.
“It was very sad.”
The teenager reportedly told police that the scars on his body were caused by alcohol being poured on him before being set alight. He also said he had been tied up and beaten with extension cords.
His 37-year-old mother, LaRhonda Marie McCall, was arrested on Saturday on 20 complaints of child abuse and neglect.
Steve Vern Hamilton, a 38-year-old friend of hers, was arrested on the same complaints.
Both are in jail with a $400,000 ($AU457,445) bond.
—Agencies