Mom, boyfriend charged for harnessing boy to the floor
EVENSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A mother and her boyfriend have been arrested after authorities say the couple harnessed her developmentally challenged boy to the floor of a locked room.
News outlets report 39-year-old Monica Hall and 42-year-old Dennis Couch were charged Monday with multiple offenses, including aggravated child neglect. A family member or friend alerted authorities to the condition of the 5-year-old boy.
Rhea County Sheriff's Office investigator Rocky Potter says the harness was fashioned from a dog harness, couch's belt and some electrical tape. The harness was made to fit around the boy's chest. The couple told authorities that the child was fastened for several hours at a time.
Officials say two other small children were also removed from the home.
It's unclear if Hall and Couch have lawyers.