Parents Kept Autistic Son in Cage

Victoria Smith, 42 and Terry Smith, 43, from Missouri have been arrested for keeping their six-year-old autistic son in a cage, feeding him nothing but hot dogs through the bars.

An anonymous tipster called the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline and reported the two. When police arrived at their home, the grandmother led them to the basement, where the little boy was discovered locked up in a 3-foot-tall, 3-foot-wide and 6-foot-long cage. According to official documents, the smell of urine was ‘unbearable.’ The boy was naked, sitting in his own feces and was playing with a few toys.

The grandmother was watching his siblings and him, while the parents were out shopping. Total of five kids, ages ranging from 11 months to eight years were living in filthy conditions.

When the Smiths’ came home they told officers that they’ve build the cage for their son’s protection and they kept him naked so he doesn’t strangle himself.

The two were arrested, but shortly after released from jail and their children were returned to them.

A social worker has tried to plead with the family to place their autistic son in a specialized facility, but the family has refused citing that they wanted to keep the family together.