Jose Samuel Gonzalez, 35, and Yessica Sabala Funes, 37, were arrested on charges of child abuse on Wednesday after their child was found chained to a bed, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said.
A 17-year-old in Florida was found chained to a bed at home after she managed to use her Apple Watch to reach out to a friend for help to call authorities. Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff's Office said the girl was crying and chained to the bed by her ankle when they arrived.
Beside the bed was a bucket if she needed to use the bathroom, according to reports. On Wednesday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of her parents, Jose Samuel Gonzalez, 35, and Yessica Sabala Funes, 37, on charges of child abuse.
Her parents had allegedly taken her phone so she could not contact anyone. Police reported that they found chain marks on the teen’s ankle, but she didn’t need to be transported to the hospital because they were minor.
“It’s really sad, you know, how can people be so cruel like that?” Neighbor Rian Oliveira told WINK News.
The teen told police she and her parents had an argument about running away before her dad chained her up, NBC2 reported. The Florida Department of Children and Families' Office of Child Welfare is now involved in the case.
Gonzalez and Funes remained in the Lee County Jail as of Friday. No bond has been set.
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