Docs: 7-year-old boy wrapped in plastic, zip tied in place
BALTIMORE -- Authorities in Montgomery County have accused a Maryland couple of wrapping a 7-year-old boy and zip-tying him in place multiple times during a seven month period, reports CBS Baltimore.
The victim allegedly told police that his father did most of the restraining, but his stepmother also assisted. Craig and Nicole Williams are now facing first degree child abuse charges, according to the station.
The 7-year-old was reportedly taken to a local hospital in December for multiple injuries to his body and a possible seizure. Hospital documents reportedly detailed "non-accidental traumatic injury to the child."
The child's injuries included bruising, abrasions and blisters all over the body, according to CBS Baltimore.
Charging documents state that the victim said that his father would wrap him in plastic wrap -- starting from his neck before bedtime. The boy then said his father would use zip ties to keep him in place.
According to the documents, the boy claimed that there were days when he did not get to eat while "bound" in his room.
In one instance, the boy told law enforcement that that he was wrapped up in plastic nearly the entire day before Thanksgiving. The following day, he was wrapped up until dinnertime, according the the documents.
The young boy reportedly told detectives that "he had thoughts of not wanting to live anymore."
When a nurse reportedly asked the boy why there were blisters on his hands, he said that his hands "were stuck in hot water."
Police say both parents admitted their roles in the crimes, according to the station.
Nicole Williams allegedly acknowledged using packing wrap to wrap the boy from the shoulders to the knees, according to court documents. Craig Williams allegedly told authorities that they had been wrapping their son in plastic for the past seven months.
The father also allegedly admitted that the child was often covered in his own fecal matter and urine, according to the documents.
In addition to the 7-year-old, authorities say several siblings live in the home, including a one-year-old, a four-year-old, a 6-year-old, 12 year-old and a 17-year-old, reports CBS Baltimore.
It is unclear if the other children had previously suffered any abuse from their parents.