Child abuse charges and seven counts of child neglect charges have been brought against a Maryland mother and her boyfriend for a harmful routine that they followed with the former’s child. A daily ritual involved the mother and her boyfriend locking the four-year-old child in a closet for upwards of 12 hours. The incident came to light when a 911 call alleged that a child was being held in a closet. Authorities arrived to find the situation just as described. When the deputies were allowed to enter the house, they found that the closet the child was in was secured with a bungee cord.


There were other children in the house, and the deputies conducted thorough medical inspections of the children, ruling that they did not require medical attention. When they found the four-year-old, they found that the closet did not have any food that the child could eat, and had “deplorable” lighting, as reported by Law and Crime. There was a third adult in the house, but it has not yet been revealed who they were or what their connection to the children was.

Kaylynn Nicole Moore, 28, and James Earl Stone, 27, found themselves in St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, Maryland. Moore and James Earl Stone were arrested on July 20 but were released on their own recognizance on Tuesday afternoon. However, a bond review hearing on July 21 resulted in their release on their own recognizance. The incident has been reported widely, and there have been a lot of things that users online have said. Users have largely decried the practice and have called into question the parenting of the two. Some have even gone so far as to say that they should get sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

One comment read, “They’ll probably get a slap on the wrist and nothing more. Child abuse doesn’t seem to be a priority when it comes to the justice system.” Another noted, “Why? Just why would anyone do this to a child, period? But their own child? Why? Heartbreaking. Praying for this child’s return to health and to have the comfort and safety of a loving home soon.”

A third comment read, “Sometimes child abusers really look like what I expect them to. Fry them both. They don’t deserve to be free.” A fourth comment noted, “Let me guess, the four-year-old was some other guy’s child? Gentlemen, I cannot tell you how important it is to keep tabs on your children after you break up with their mother.”

Disclaimer: Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available.