Georgia police arrested two women during the weekend for locking a boy inside an animal cage, after the minor had allegedly misbehaved, reported local media.
Crystal Jean Hostetter, the minor's mother, and her girlfriend Sarah Elizabeth McClain told the authorities they were just trying to discipline the boy; however, the police have accused the women of cruelty against the child, since besides locking him in an animal cage, the couple poured syrup and cat litter on him, and forced him to hold a brick in each hand over his head, according to The Daily News.
According to the same source, the minor's screams were so loud that neighbors called the police, fearing that his life was in danger.
Chris Womack, chief of police of Douglasville County, Georgia, told 11 Live News Atlanta, an NBC affiliate, that the 6-year-old boy was left in the cage for many hours on Saturday before he was rescued.
The women, 24-year-old Hostetter and 30-year-old McClain are still detained and the police are investigating whether the couple has any previous cases of abuse against minors in Pennsylvania, from where they moved to Douglasville on March 1, according to My Fox 8.
Tod Garner, police sergeant of Douglasville County, interviewed the boy and revealed that the boy is well physically, but that he has been mentally abused.
Sgt. Garner said that the minor was more worried for his mother than for himself, asked many times about her and asked the police to help her.
Video via 11 Live News.