Authorities in West Virginia say a disturbing discovery inside an Upshur County home led to the arrest of a couple after deputies found a young child locked alone inside a bedroom.
According to the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the home on Thursday after receiving a call from the couple’s 18-year-old daughter, who reported a domestic dispute between her parents. But what officers found inside the residence quickly shifted the focus of the investigation.
When deputies entered the home, they discovered a 4-year-old child with autism locked in a bedroom, according to details reported by WDTV News. The room did not have a standard door. Instead, officials said two gates had been installed to keep the child inside.
Authorities say the child was nonverbal and found sitting behind a bed, naked and in poor conditions. Court documents indicate the child had blue staining on the feet and mouth, and the bed was reportedly covered with food. Investigators also noted that the child appeared to be attempting to smear feces on the wall, suggesting the child had been left alone in the room for some time.
The child’s parents, Joshua Vincent Moore, 40, and Kayla Renee Spruill, 37, were both arrested and charged with child neglect creating risk of injury, according to the sheriff’s office.
During the investigation, the parents told deputies the child was kept in the room for safety reasons, claiming the child had a history of trying to wander away from the house.
However, the couple’s teenage daughter reportedly told investigators that the situation was more routine than unusual. According to the report, she said the 4-year-old was often left locked in the room, and that she had been asked to stay home from high school to watch the child while her parents were gone.
Deputies also documented signs that both parents may have been under the influence before officers arrived.
According to investigators, Spruill had the odor of alcohol, and a preliminary breath test allegedly showed a reading around 1.1, according to the report. She reportedly told deputies she had been drinking wine with a friend after work and returned home the following morning.
Moore told deputies he had smoked marijuana earlier in the morning before leaving for work, returning later that afternoon.
Authorities say the investigation revealed a pattern of behavior in which the couple allegedly argued frequently, used marijuana, and left the young child confined in the room.
Both Moore and Spruill were taken into custody and transported to the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, where they are being held on $25,000 bond each.
The case has raised concerns about the safety and care of vulnerable children, particularly those with special needs who require additional supervision and support.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing as the legal process moves forward.
