A couple from Ohio accused of turning their three adopted children into virtual prisoners on February 25 pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to the charges filed against them.

The case was investigated when prosecutors found out that two girls of the three adopted children crashed the van of the family because they wanted to escape. The man, 58, and  his wife, 64, were both charged with endangering children, felonious assault and kidnapping.

Like Us on Facebook

The man is also charged with sexual abuse as the two girls, 14 and 17 years old, claim such incident.

County Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci also said in a statement that a third child, a 21-year-old boy, has been neglected and abused. The boy is reportedly mentally disabled.

Iarocci also said the husband and wife used a paddle to repeatedly beat the two girls and the boy. They reportedly locked them up and did not give them enough food to eat, leading to their malnourished state.

To protect the identities of the abuse victims, the names of the accused are being withheld at the moment.

These three children were allowed only two hours out of their rooms in a day for homeschool lessons and bathroom breaks.  They were also not allowed to talk to other people or children.

Based on the results of the investigation, the abuse has been going on since 2011. In 2013, the two girls who tried to escape were placed in juvenile court when they reported the abuse.

After the van crashed during their recent escape attempt, the boy and the two girls were then placed in foster.

The accused couple has adopted a total of six children 11 years ago but the abuse started only after two years when two boys left the home upon turning 18. There is also a 13-year-old boy in the home, but there were no signs that he was a victim of child abuse.

The husband and wife remain in jail and are being held with a US$50,000 bail each. 

Tagscouple, adopted kids, Child abuse, Ohio, Sexual Abuse