Missouri Couple Accused Of Locking Teens In Chicken Pen, Holding Children ‘Fight Nights’

[Sugar Cookie]

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Chantel Hayford and Jerry Menees are accused of locking a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old in a chicken pen and using BB guns to shoot at them.

The sheriff’s office said Hayford is related to the teens.

Charging documents stated the couple gave the children drugs and alcohol and refused to feed or house them. The reported abuse took place between January 2023 and December 2025.

The sheriff’s office said that evidence suggested a pattern of ongoing abuse, including the couple holding organized “fight nights” at a child’s birthday party, where the children were forced to fight one another.

Charges against Hayford and Menees include kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, abuse or neglect of a child and domestic assault.

Couple accused of child abuse; locking teens in chicken pen, holding children ‘fight nights’

A Missouri couple has been arrested and is facing child abuse and neglect charges.

www.wdbj7.com

 

[Symmachus]

"Hosting fight nights forcing children to fight each other. Man, that's just such a terrible thing to do. I mean, why involve human children in something so negative? I feel so bad for these kids, man. You gotta treat these kids with love and respect, and constructing rings for human children to fight in is going to completely ruin their childhood. It's so hard to think about. I just can't relate to people who do that with children that are human, because it just doesn't make any sense at all to-"

"Woof! Woof woof woof!"

"Shoot, I gotta go. My buddies are coming over with their dogs so that we can bet money on which dogs can duke it out the best with each other."

Later that evening:

 

[cubby]

My parents used to make us "hug it out" if we were fighting. I'd rather fight, to tell you the truth, but that would have been my decision not theirs.

 

[Pinwheel]

My parents used to make us "hug it out" if we were fighting. I'd rather fight, to tell you the truth, but that would have been my decision not theirs.

My mother literally duct tapped my sister and I together in a hugging position due to our fighting so much.

 

[runninfawn]

i use to make mine sit in corners facing each other they couldn't say a word to eacg other just make faces at each other and in no time at all they were making funny faces at each other and laughing...