Three charged after kids locked in bedroom reeking of human waste, officials say

Authorities were investigating a fraud case at a Meriwether County home on Dec. 1 when they learned that the two children were being forced to live in a bedroom reeking of human waste, authorities said.

Barry Lee Ellenburg, 41, Daniel Richard Odell, 35, and Charlenne Virginia Ellenburg, 64, all of Greenville, Ga., face two counts each of first-degree child cruelty. They were booked into the Meriwether County Jail without bond.

Additional charges may be filed in this case at a later date, according to a news release.

Investigators went to a Greenville home on Cleggs Ferry Road on Dec. 1 to follow-up on a financial transaction card fraud case. They were speaking with people about that incident when one of the two teens in the home directed them to their bedroom, which smelled like human waste.

Sheriff Chuck Smith said officials noticed a dead-bolt lock on the bedroom door and asked the children about it.

Further investigation indicated that the 16-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were locked in their bedrooms nearly every evening around 5:30 p.m. They were forced to relieve themselves in the portable toilet in the corner of the room, authorities stated.

“It was indicated that a mattress would at times be placed over the outside of the door to drown out the sounds,” Smith said. “Our investigators noticed that the 16-year-old female’s head was shaved and, upon questioning, discovered that this was used as a punishment.”

One of the children’s legal guardians corroborated that accusation, according the news release.

“It was further alleged that the female juvenile was provided a wig to wear,” Smith said. “However the wig would allegedly be taken away as an additional punishment.”

Officials said they also noticed three infrared cameras in the children’s bedroom, which was in disarray with all the light bulbs removed from the fixtures. There were nail marks on the windows, which officials said were previously boarded up.

The teens were removed from the home and placed in the custody of the Department of Family and Children Services.

“Our investigators did an outstanding job of recognizing that there was evidence of a far more serious criminal act occurring in this residence than what they were following up on,” Smith said. “Their investigative instincts led to the arrest being made and these juveniles being removed from the home for the betterment of their safety and well-being.”

This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Three charged after kids locked in bedroom reeking of human waste, officials say."