Boy, 7, Was Held Captive, Beaten, and Starved Down to 25 Pounds

A Pennsylvania boy was held captive for over a year by his mother and grandparents before social workers found him, and at the time of his rescue, he’d withered down to 25 pounds–lighter than the average 2-year-old.

The boy was regularly beaten, and apparently so starving that witnesses saw him eat bugs he caught on the porch.

Interviews with the victim and siblings revealed that the victim was fed only small portions of tuna fish and eggs. He was beaten frequently with a belt, especially when he was caught sneaking food, usually peanut butter and bread…The only time he was given a shower was as punishment and the water was ice cold. He also had two abscessed teeth which had to be removed.

The boy’s mother, Mary C. Rader, 28, and grandparents, Dennis C. Beighley, 58, and Deana C. Beighley, 47, all of the same address, were arrested Wednesday and each charged with two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated assault of a victim under 13, unlawful restraint of a minor, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children, and criminal conspiracy, the Herald noted.

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