Woman charged with child abuse after allegedly locking 4 children in dog kennels
A North Dakota woman has been accused of locking four young children in dog kennels for misbehaving.
Jordan McKay Nelson, 23, has been charged with four counts of child abuse or neglect and four counts of felonious restraint, the Grand Forks Herald and KFGO report.
The Grafton woman was released from jail on bond Friday, the Herald says.
The children, ages 5, 6, 8 and 9, told police that Nelson would lock them in dog cages in the basement and turn out the lights as punishment for misbehaving. The children belong to Nelson’s partner, police said.
One of the children, an 8-year-old girl, said Nelson had forced her 6-year-old brother to eat dog food, which caused him to vomit.
The 9-year-old said he was placed in the cage when he wouldn’t listen. During an interview with police, the boy drew a picture of himself in a cage with the words “help me” next to him, according to the complaint.
Nelson is due in court on April 13. A judge has ordered her to stay away from the children.
Her lawyer could not be reached for comment, KFGO said.
