Imagine the heart-wrenching reality of having to confine your own child in a homemade jail cell for six years. It’s a scenario that no parent should ever have to face. Yet, that’s exactly what unfolded in Henderson recently, leading to the arrest of two parents for locking their 11-year-old son who has autism in a homemade jail cell.
Last Friday morning, around 10:15 in the morning, officers from the Henderson Police Department responded to a welfare check request. In the 2000 block of Silverton Drive, near Wigwam and North Green Valley Parkways. The call stemmed from an anonymous tip from the area to check a suspicious home. Upon arrival, although nobody answered the door, the officers could hear a child screaming and a gate rattling inside the residence. It took approximately 40 minutes before Jeffery Scanlan, the father of the 11-year-old, finally opened the door.
Unexpected Discovery!
After police began searching inside the home, they encountered a distressing sight, they found an 11-year-old boy confined within a large metal structure resembling a jail cell, complete with bars and locked doors. The child, clad only in a diaper, was surrounded by filth. Jeffery explained to the officers that his son had been diagnosed with severe Autism Spectrum Disorder, which necessitated such extreme measures to restrain him.
Jeffery also highlighted that because of the child’s size and strength, he often had violent outbursts. That damaged the house and made him try to run away to nearby homes. What’s surprising is that Jeffery confessed to the police that his son had been kept like this, on and off, for a shocking six years.
What Happened To The Kid?
After this disturbing revelation, law enforcement arrested the parents on charges of child abuse. And moved them to the Henderson Detention Center. Meanwhile, authorities promptly transported the 11-year-old boy to a nearby hospital. Where Child Protective Services intervened to ensure his ongoing safety.
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