Oshkosh, Wis. – A 13-year-old girl’s father and stepmother were arrested after the teen told police she had been locked in a room for nearly two years, allowed out only for meals, chores and one-minute timed bathroom breaks, authorities said.
Clint M. Engstrom, 32, and Lynn M. Engstrom, 35, were charged Tuesday with one count each of causing mental harm to a child, a felony.
According to the criminal complaint, the girl had been locked in a small bedroom since February 2005 as punishment for bad behavior, spending 22 hours a day in the room, which had an alarm and a deadbolt. A camera recorded the girl’s activities, and the room’s only furnishings were a urine-soaked mattress, blanket, pillow and empty dresser, the complaint said.
The complaint said a search found there were toys and electronics for three other children living at the home, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee, but virtually nothing for the 13-year-old.
The couple were jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail each.
