A shocking case of child abuse has been uncovered in O’Fallon, Missouri, where a mother and father are accused of locking up, beating, and starving their three children in a home filled with meth and urine. The authorities were alerted to the situation after one of the children showed up at school with a massive gash and school officials were unable to reach the parents.
Upon investigating the home, authorities found that the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator were locked, denying the children regular access to food. The house was described as “uninhabitable” due to the overwhelming smell of urine, unsanitary conditions, lack of heat, and absence of bedding on the mattresses.
One of the children, a 13-year-old girl, reported being in pain, vomiting from hunger, and being beaten as punishment. The children were also forced to care for themselves and each other, including waking themselves up, preparing food, and getting ready for school, as the adults slept for extended periods and failed to provide supervision.
The children described being subjected to physical discipline, including being struck with belts, paddles, and other objects, as well as being grabbed or dragged by the neck. They were also warned never to discuss what happened in the home.
Police discovered a large amount of methamphetamine in the house and noted that the adults appeared evasive, impaired, or unresponsive during multiple visits. Despite being given the opportunity to clean and address safety hazards, no meaningful improvements were made.
Both parents, Amberly Britton and Mark Myers, were charged with second-degree drug trafficking and three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Britton had previously been convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, while Myers has prior convictions for statutory rape, failure to register as a sex offender, and possession of a controlled substance.
