Parents of Missing 12-Year-old Michigan Boy Face Torture Charges After He Was Found Emaciated in Basement
The parents of a 12-year-old boy that was reported missing last year are charged with torture after authorities found the boy emaciated in his family's basement 11 days later, Reuters reports.
Charles Bothuell IV and his wife, Monique Dillard-Bothuell, could spend the rest of their lives in prison if convicted of torture. They could also face up to four years in prison if convicted of child abuse.
Wayne County Prosecutors alleged that the child's parents abused him physically, starved him, banished him to the basement and forced him to perform excessive exercise.
Charles Bothuell IV's son, Charlie Bothuell, reportedly went missing on June 14, 2014. Police searched for him throughout the state. Michigan State Police sergeant and an FBI agent found the boy alive and hungry living in boxes in the basement of his house.
When police found the 12-year-old boy, he was extremely thin and had marks on his upper body.
Detroit officers arrested Bothuell and his wife Friday.
Charlie Bothuell was last seen at his dad's house in the 1300 block of Nicolet Place on June 14, ABC Detroit reports.
"I didn't know he was in the basement," Charlie's father said. "I couldn't find him. I'm shocked, because I looked, the Detroit Police looked, the FBI looked. For anyone to imply that I knew he was in the basement is absurd."
The father was in tears saying, "I want to see my son. I want to talk to my son."
Charlie's family was relieved to have found him.
"I just fell on the floor, I just fell on the floor. Too many things are happening out here you just don't know what had happened to that little boy," said Patricia Maxwell, Charlie's aunt.
Charles Bothuell IV previously told police that his son had ran away a few times in the past but only for a few hours.
The man failed a polygraph test administered to him during his son's disappearance while his wife refused to take the test.
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