Couple Arrested After Leaving 7-Year-Old Son Outside Without Food, Water for Days: Police
An Alabama couple allegedly forced their 7-year-old son to stay outside for days without food or water as a punishment, authorities said.
Catherine Rowe, 34, and Matthew Scott Rowe, 33, were indicted on child abuse charges Tuesday after they allegedly made the child stay outside, during which time they “failed to properly feed and hydrate” him, court records viewed by AL.com said.
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Police said they discovered the boy on the front porch April 2 after being notified by the Department of Human Resources of the situation.
It was the third day he had been left outside, forced to endure temperatures in the mid-40s, authorities said.
The boy was taken to a local hospital to be treated and was later placed in the custody of DHR, AL.com reported.
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Four other children who lived at the home — two who belonged to both parents and two others that were from previous relationships — were also reportedly removed from the Shelby County house.
Neighbors told investigators they had seen the boy on the porch, but didn’t think anything of it at the time, Columbiana Police Chief Lamar Vick said.
The Rowes are set to be arraigned November 7.
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