The Hocking County Sheriff’s Office wrote that they “located a three-year-old child locked inside a cage, which was secured with zipties” and “A two-year-old was also found walking around the residence holding a methamphetamine pipe.”
Police in Hocking County, Ohio found a 3-year-old locked in a cage and a 2-year-old holding a meth pipe as they served a warrant based on a sexual assault investigation into the parents on Sunday.
In an official statement on Facebook, the Hocking County Sheriff's Office wrote that they "located a three-year-old child locked inside a cage, which was secured with zip ties" and "A two-year-old was also found walking around the residence holding a methamphetamine pipe."
Police said that when they entered the home to serve the warrant it was in "deplorable condition" and "The cage that the infant was in was filled with bugs, soiled bedding, and a cup full of spoiled milk.
According to local news, when police arrived the kids' parents, Megan Smith and Franklin "TJ" Varney ran away from the house at speed. Police did immediately arrest the children's grandmother, 61-year-old Ella Webb, who had legal custody of the kids.
Police report that the mom and dad "fled the residence due to their involvement with the sexual assault investigation."
According to local Fox news, Hocking County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Caleb J. Moritz said, "I very, very strongly encourage Mr. Varney and Ms. Smith to immediately surrender themselves to law enforcement. If they chose to run from their responsibilities, as they did tonight, the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office will tirelessly leverage every local, state, and federal resource available to bring these two to justice."
Emergency foster care took the kids.
Grandmother Webb has been charged with the 3rd-degree felony of Endangering Children. Warrants and charges for Endangering Children have been placed on 25-year-old mom Megan Smith and 38-year-old dad Franklin "TJ" Varney.
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