The parents are accused of child cruelty and are accused of imprisoning teenagers

WHITESBURG, Ga. – A Whitesburg couple is facing serious charges after authorities allege they severely abused their four teenage children by locking them in their rooms for extended periods of time.

James and Cindy Spooner were each charged with first-degree child cruelty and four counts of false imprisonment, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators executed a search warrant at the family’s four-bedroom, ranch-style home and found three girls and a boy, all teenagers, in conditions described as inhumane.

Sheriff’s deputies reported that there was a deadbolt lock on the outside of each child’s bedroom door. Additionally, they discovered that exterior doors and windows were boarded up, allegedly to prevent the children from leaving the house.

The teens told investigators they were locked in their bedrooms for hours to days with a bucket as a toilet and only given food at their parents’ discretion.

The sheriff’s office condemned the actions in a statement:

“This is a heartbreaking situation for these innocent children and no one should be treated like they were. We pray for their mental and physical recovery and hope that the perpetrators will be harshly punished by the justice system for these terrible acts.”

The investigation is still ongoing.