Asia-Pacific

US couple accused of keeping children in cage

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-14 14:05

VANCOUVER, Washington - A couple accused of keeping two young children caged in a room have been arrested.

Related readings:  US mom drives 3 kids into NY river; all die

Clark County jail records show that 30-year-old John Eckhart and 26-year-old Alayna Higdon are accused of unlawful imprisonment and second-degree criminal mistreatment. The couple made an initial court appearance Wednesday, and a judge set bail at $25,000 each.

Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp says an officer found two boys, ages 5 and 7, locked in a bedroom with a cage-like door at the couple's apartment on Tuesday.

Police say Higdon told them she didn't want the two boys running wild. Kapp says the case has been forwarded to the Clark County prosecutor's office for review.

An attorney for Eckhart says he has just been assigned the case. An attorney for Higdon wasn't immediately available.