A young child with autism, aged four, was discovered confined in a room attempting to use his own feces for finger painting. The distressing incident unfolded when law enforcement responded to a reported altercation between the child’s parents.
Joshua Vincent Moore, 40, and Kayla Renee Spruill, 37, faced charges of child neglect endangering their non-verbal autistic son, who was found locked in a room secured with dual gates. The authorities were initially summoned by their 18-year-old daughter regarding a domestic violence situation involving her parents.
Upon questioning, the daughter guided the officers to a room barricaded with gates where her sibling, described as nonverbal and autistic, was kept for safety, as per Law&Crime. The child was discovered unclothed with blue marks on his feet and mouth, along with traces of food on the bed. Notably, he had been trying to create art on the wall using his own feces.
Reports from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the daughter claimed she was often tasked with caring for her brother instead of attending school, citing her parents’ work obligations and frequent physical altercations. Spruill acknowledged that she and Moore confined their son in the room for safety concerns. Subsequently, Spruill’s alcohol intoxication was detected with a breathalyzer test, indicating a level above the legal limit.
Moore confessed to authorities that he had consumed marijuana before heading to work in the early morning hours, returning home later in the afternoon. The daughter disclosed that it was customary for her parents to partake in marijuana use, engage in video games, and leave her brother isolated in the room.
Both Moore and Spruill were apprehended and are currently detained at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on $25,000 cash bonds. A preliminary hearing for the couple is scheduled for March 13.
