Chaining 6-Year-Old Son: Utah Man Accused Of Chaining Son To Bed

A man has been accused of chaining his 6-year-old son to a metal bed inside of their Logan, Utah, home. According to Yahoo! News, four counts of child abuse have been filed against the 28-year-old dad. It seems as though the dad believed that chaining his son to the bed would ensure that he was safe when he was left home alone. Evidently, the boy had “just enough” slack to access food, water, and the restroom — but not get himself in any kind of trouble… or leave the home.

According to the report:

“Police in Logan, a city about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City, say they found the boy home alone Tuesday with a chain attached to a metal bed frame padlocked to the child’s ankle.”

The man who allegedly chained his 6-year-old son to the bed has been in trouble with the law in the past:

“Online state court records show the father was convicted of felony forgery and theft in 2009. He was arrested in 2011 when he broke the terms of his probation.”

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, an anonymous tip came into the Logan Police Department on Tuesday. The person who left the tip said that they believed there was a young boy tied up inside a home while his parent went to work. Police arrived at the home around 11 am, where they found the boy chained up. The boy was checked out (he appeared to be in good health) and then placed into the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. His father was arrested.

It is unclear how long the man’s 6-year-old son was chained inside the home. It sounds like this was a daily occurrence, but there is no information that proves that theory. The whereabouts of the boy’s mother is unknown as is the reasoning behind why the boy wasn’t in school. An investigation is pending, and police hope to get to the bottom of this case soon.

It is possible that the boy will be placed into the custody of another family member, but right now, he is being kept safe by the state. Some outlets have chosen to release the name of the father who has been arrested in this crime, but it is important to keep the identity of the child private as to ensure his safety.

More details on this case are expected in the coming days. Do you think that the father should lose custody of his son? Should the man be sent to jail for his actions? Sound off in the comments below.

[Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]