Autistic Twins Locked in Room Without Furniture, Toilet in Care of State

The Montgomery County parents charged with periodically locking their autistic twins in a room without furniture or access to a toilet agreed Wednesday to allow social workers to take temporary guardianship of their sons.

John and Janice Land of Rockville have not decided whether they will try to bring the 22-year-old sons home after the two-month guardianship ends, according to their attorney, Maura Lynch.

“They just want what is best for their kids,” Lynch told The Washington Post.

The Rockville couple face abuse charges after the 22-year-old brothers, who do not speak, were found inside a locked basement room July 17 when Montgomery County Police were searching their house as part of a drug investigation. Police said the room reeked of urine and had only one window too small for the men to get out through in an emergency.

John Weaver Land, 57, and his wife, Janice Elizabeth Land, 59, were charged with two counts of second-degree vulnerable adult abuse and two counts of unlawful intentional detention, in violation of common law.

The couple told police their sons had left the house in the past and could not care for themselves. The twins reportedly communicate by pointing to objects that they want, The Washington Post says.

John Land said he and his wife recently removed furniture from the basement bedroom because it was soiled. The parents said they planned to buy new furniture when they could afford it.

According to the Post, John Land told police he usually locked the twins in at 10 p.m. and let them out when he got up at 4:45 a.m. When detectives asked Land how he would know if the sons needed something, he said the pair would eventually make enough noise that he knew he needed to check on them.

Detectives were alerted to the alleged abuse after a search warrant for a drug investigation was executed at the residence. During the search of the house, authorities found the brothers locked in the room by an external dead bolt.

The single light in the room didn’t work, police said, while a radio played loud music. There were no working smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in the house.

The couple was released July 18 on $75,000 bond for John Land and $50,000 bond for Janice Land.

The Montgomery County Police Department offers an autism outreach program. To learn more about the services provided for the autistic community, contact Officer Laurie Reyes at Laurie.Reyes@montgomerycountymd.gov. If abuse of any kind is suspected, call 9-1-1.

»John and Janice Land of Rockville have been charged with abuse for allegedly locking their non-verbal, 22-year-old autistic sons in a room at times with no furniture or toilet. Photo Credit: Montgomery County Police