Parents, Grandfather Lock Kids Nightly in Roach-Infested Freezer Room

Two Florida children were found locked in a disgusting, roach-infested room with no heat after calling for help from a broken bedroom window.

According to a report from My Panhandle.com, deputies from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Panama City at 8529 Terrell St. Lot B on December 1.

True Crime News reports that two children, ages 4 and 5, were “yelling out of a broken window, begging for help” from neighbors. The victims stated they needed to use the restroom, but their bedroom door was locked.

When the deputies arrived, the children were “hanging out of a window of the house,” which was secured by  a nailed-in board.

Upon entering the home, deputies encountered a strong smell of urine and feces coming from the bedroom. The children were found locked in the room by a steel cable wrapped around the door handle. The room contained a bed with no sheets, covered in dirt, along with a few blankets and a pillow on the filthy, trash-covered floor. Cockroaches infested both the floor and walls.

Child Protective Services were called in to assess the situation. During their evaluation, the children informed them that they were not allowed to leave the room at night, even to use the restroom. The 5-year-old also mentioned that he was “freezing” and that “his lips were cold.” The house did not have working heat.

The children’s mother, Kathy Merrill, 27, and father, John Merrill, 31, admitted to authorities that they kept the kids locked in the room at night until they woke up. They had been locking them in since 2023. The mother acknowledged the filthy conditions of the room but claimed she “did not have the energy to clean.” The parents stated they “have been trying to teach the kids to clean their room.”

Michael Beaubien, 73, also resides in the home. Beaubien, the children’s paternal grandfather, was reportedly aware of the children being locked in the room and the filthy conditions.

Both Kathy and John Merrill have been arrested on two counts of child neglect. The grandfather has been charged with failure to report child neglect.

[Feature Photos via Bay County Sheriff’s Office]

You May Also Like

Trump orders airstrikes on Houthi terror group and warns of severe consequences if attacks continue

TRUMP has launched a devastating attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen and…

Beware: Some Soy Sauce Brands Might Not Be Authentic – Report Finds Little to No Real Soy and Lots of Processed Ingredients

There’s nothing soy about some soy sauces on supermarket shelves, according to…

Kanye West Releases New Song Featuring Diddy and North West Despite Kim Kardashian’s Opposition

Despite reports of Kim Kardashian attempting to prevent its release, Kanye West…

Pope Francis gives health update while delivering traditional Sunday prayer from hospital bed

Pope Francis said in his latest Sunday prayer, issued from his hospital…

Alabama Town Dismisses Remaining Police Staff Following Grand Jury’s Suggestion to Dismantle Department

In a small Alabama town, the entire police department and its employees…

Listen: Recordings from 911 Call at University of Idaho Murders Made Public

Idaho news agencies recently acquired the recording of the 911 call made…

Success in combat: Ukraine’s new ‘Long Neptune’ missile with a range of 620 miles effectively hits the target.

UKRAINE has successfully tested a powerful new combat missile which boasts an…

Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to keep talking about Gaza ceasefire after new hostage release offers

Israel is ready to keep talking about a ceasefire, following a US…

Tragic Ending to Middle School Conflict: One Teen in Custody and One Fatality

An altercation between two Texas middle school students resulted in the death…

Masked gunmen invaded our dream yacht, killed my husband, and tied me up after we left the UK for the Caribbean.

GAZING out over the sparkling crystal blue waters of the Bahamas, Gary…

Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords call for Keir Starmer to start a quick investigation into the origins of Covid following The Sun’s revealing ‘lab leak’ documentary.

TOP lawmakers are demanding the UK government launch a probe into the…

Disturbing 911 recording shows tragic aftermath of Idaho quadruple homicide: ‘She won’t rouse’

The audio of a 911 call made after four University of Idaho…