Family starved kids for 6 days, forced them to write Bible verses in exchange for food, cops say

Three radical successful Missouri are accused of abusing children successful their location that included depriving them of nutrient for up to six days and forcing them to constitute Bible verses earlier being allowed to eat.

Ryan Nichols and Dianne Nichols, some 47, look a slew of child abuse oregon neglect charges portion Maverick Nichols, 22, stands accused of sodomy and rape. The probe began successful June 2023 erstwhile a miss accused Maverick Nichols of forcing her to execute intersexual acts implicit respective years, a probable origin apprehension affidavit said. She lived astatine the Nichols home, though her narration with the defendants was redacted to support her identity.

She described a "restrictive and abusive location environment" wherever she and different children were "confined to their rooms for extended periods each time nether strict surveillance of Dianne, Ryan and, astatine times, Maverick," cops wrote.

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"Surveillance cameras were placed successful their rooms and entree to basal necessities specified arsenic bath breaks were controlled; the children had to rise their hands and hold for permission, often for prolonged periods," the ailment stated.

The miss besides said she was subjected to "physical beatings and starvation, with the longest play without nutrient lasting six days."

Another kid said besides was confined regular to his country and "enforced silence" was maintained done "white sound machines," according to cops. He was erstwhile denied bath entree for truthful agelong that helium had to flight done a model to relieve himself, the affidavit said.

"He reported that nutrient deprivation and excessive penning tasks were communal punishments, and helium often stood for agelong periods to debar these penalties," cops wrote.

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Dianne Nichols allegedly required 1 of the kids to "complete writings, specifically Bible verses, aggregate times regular successful speech for meals."

Cops executed a hunt warrant connected the Nichols location successful December 2023. Investigators reportedly recovered grounds corroborating what the victims alleged, including galore surveillance cameras and rooms with constricted bedding and furniture. A hunt of the suspects' cellphones besides showed substance messages among themselves that spoke of their harsh disciplinary practices, cops said.

After receiving her Miranda warnings, Dianne Nichols denied allegations of mistreatment and said their disciplinary practices were indispensable due to the fact that of the kids' behaviour issues, according to police. She allegedly described the children arsenic "troubled, attributing their behaviors to past trauma."

The suspects stay successful the Jackson County Jail, each connected $75,000 bond. They are scheduled to look successful tribunal connected Sept. 2.