Parents Arrested After Child Found Locked In Boarded-Up Room

SPRING HILL, FL — The Spring Hill parents of six children ranging from an infant to a 10-year-old were arrested by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office after being accused of locking one of the children in a boarded-up room for months at a time with only a urine-soaked mattress and a blanket.

During a news conference Tuesday, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said authorities were alerted when the child lit the mattress on fire in an attempt to alert someone to his plight.

The sheriff’s office arrested Kelley Davis, 36, and Daniel Davis, 37, and charged each with one count of aggravated child abuse, however, Nocco said there will likely be more charges.

Around 10:40 a.m. Monday, Pasco County Fire Rescue and sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a fire at the home. While responding to the fire, deputies discovered that a boy less than 10 years old had been locked in a bedroom since March. The bedroom door had a lock on the outside and was boarded up. The only window was also boarded up so no natural light could enter the room.

The electrical breaker to the bedroom had been shut off and there were no toys, games or furniture in the room. Deputies said the room was covered in feces and urine.

When questioned, the parents told investigators that they locked the boy in the room for 11 to 12 hours at a time because of behavioral issues.

The couple's other children, all girls, had access to electricity, toys and television. The children were home-schooled and neighbors said they rarely left the house.

"We don't treat the worst in our society the way this child was treated," said Nocco. “This is one of those cases that will tear your heart apart. It is unbelievable how evil people can be. Pictures will never give justice to what this child went through."

Nocco said one of the boy's sisters finally slipped him some matches under the door, so he could light the fire and alert authorities. Even this, said Nocco, the mother called her husband before summoning fire rescue.

The sheriff's office had been called to the home several times previously including on Aug. 26 when a neighbor spotted the boy rummaging through a refrigerator in the garage. But each time deputies were called to the home, the father explained that the boy had behavioral issues, possibly mental health-related.

"There was nothing to indicate what was going on in that house," said Nocco.