A couple in Utah got arrested this week when the police came across their 8-year-old daughter with autism chained to a bed by her ankle.
Benjamin Sorensen, 45, and Emily Sorensen, 40, were accused of mistreating a child with a disability. KTVX made this report.
According to court papers, the police were called to a house in Provo on March 5 and discovered the young non-verbal girl restrained to the top part of a bunk bed in the living room.
Benjamin Sorensen apparently didn't want to unlock the padlock on the chain when the police asked him to get rid of it. Cops noticed that the chain left marks on the girl's skin.
Sorensen later admitted that he had tied the girl to the bed every night for the past three months, keeping her locked to the top bunk from 8:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. the next day.
However, Emily Sorensen told the police they only began tying up their daughter three weeks ago.
“[Benjamin] also stated that sometimes when both he and Emily were gone, he would leave the victim chained to the bed but would leave a key with their 13-year-old daughter,” the court documents said. “During these times, the victim is mostly left unsupervised while chained.”
The documents mentioned that the Department of Children and Family Services had earlier reported a similar incident and that the Sorensens had agreed not to continue the practice.
The court documents did not explain why the parents felt it was necessary to tie up an 8-year-old girl with autism to a bed.
The Sorensens must show up for all court events, avoid contacting the 8-year-old, not commit any more crimes, and stick to any plans made by DCFS. They were let go the next day without bail, as per jail records.
As per KUTV, all five children in the home were taken into protective custody.
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