A Sioux City couple has been charged with felony child endangerment after authorities allege they starved and imprisoned their 13-year-old autistic daughter in a bedroom for months, denying her food, water, and access to a bathroom until she became so desperate that she climbed out of a window to find something to eat.
Background
Brandon Myers, 45, and Emily Myers, 45, told investigators they were the guardians of the teenage girl with autism. According to court documents obtained by NBC affiliate KTIV, Sioux City police responded to a South Rustin Street residence on Tuesday around 3:35 p.m. following reports that a juvenile was missing from the home.
When officers arrived, the couple explained they had last seen the girl in her bedroom the previous night and claimed they went to sleep around 4 a.m. without checking on her again. Police located the girl nearby and returned her to the residence, where she appeared severely malnourished and dehydrated.
The investigation would reveal the disturbing conditions inside the home that led to the teenager's desperate escape attempt.
The Investigation
Court documents allege the girl told police she had climbed out of her bedroom window because she was hungry. She subsequently returned to the house, entered the kitchen to retrieve food items including bananas and bagels, and then hid inside a van on the property where she reportedly "ate as much as she could." Police discovered numerous boxes of snacks inside the vehicle.
A search warrant revealed extreme living conditions within the home. Investigators found that the girl's bedroom had been deliberately modified to prevent her escape: a lock installed on the exterior of the door, the door handle placed backward, and screws inserted into the window frame to stop it from opening. Inside the room, police allegedly discovered a plastic tote containing urine.
The bedroom was approximately 10 to 15 degrees warmer than the rest of the house, according to the court documents. The child was admitted to a local hospital for medical treatment where doctors determined she weighed just 78 pounds.
During an interview with investigators after receiving their Miranda rights, both Brandon and Emily Myers allegedly admitted they locked the girl inside her bedroom from outside every night, provided no food or water during these confinements, and forced her to use the plastic container to urinate and defecate. The couple is being held without bond in Woodbury County.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full scope of the alleged abuse.
Key Takeaways
- Brandon Myers and Emily Myers, both 45, charged with felony child endangerment causing injury in Sioux City, Iowa
- Police allege the 13-year-old autistic girl was locked in her bedroom nightly without food or water access
- The teenager escaped through a window to retrieve bananas and bagels before hiding in a van where she ate voraciously
- Investigators discovered elaborate barriers preventing escape: exterior locks, backward door handles, screws in window frames
- Hospital records show the girl weighed only 78 pounds at time of discovery
- Both defendants allegedly admitted to confinement practices during police interviews
- Couple being held without bond pending preliminary hearing on Aug. 21
What's Next
Brandon Myers and Emily Myers are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 21 in Woodbury County court. The investigation continues as authorities assess the full extent of the alleged abuse and any potential additional victims or complicit parties.
Child protective services have taken custody of the teenager, who remains hospitalized for treatment of malnutrition and dehydration.