Law enforcement stated a 9-year-old boy was locked in his closet without food and water for nearly two days, and even forced to use the restroom while in confinement.
Joseph Ciaveralla, 52, and Loretta Wilhelm, 34, were booked without a bond after they were charged in the child abuse investigation.
A probable cause document stated the Children's Division was informed a 9-year-old boy was being locked in a closet for long periods of time and even over night. A witness told investigators Wilhelm, who was engaged to Ciavarella, would hit the child and lock him in the closet, one time for almost two days without food and water.
The witness also said the child was not allowed to eat food provided to the rest of the household and would only be fed noodles and ravioli, according to the probable cause document.
When investigators ultimately interviewed the child, the boy said he was locked in a dark closet all the time, day and night, the document stated. He would be let out by Ciaveralla and Wilhelm in the morning to eat ravioli and then locked back in the closet. The 9-year-old also said when he did something wrong or "got into Wilhelm's things, she would choke him with two hands."
Ciavarella denied any knowledge of the child being locked in the closet or any other allegation, stating he worked nights and did not know what went on at the house, according to the court document.
Wilhelm also denied putting the child in the closet or taking him out. The document stated that when an investigator asked her why the room smelled like human urine, she asked for an attorney.
Ciavarella was charged with first-degree child endangerment, while Wilhelm was charged with child abuse or neglect.
krcgtv.com
