In a disturbing incident, a Virginia mother and her apparent boyfriend have been arrested on charges of child neglect, cruelty, and abduction after two young boys were found chained to a post inside a home in Groveton, Virginia.
The incident came to light when Fairfax County Police responded to a report of alleged child neglect at an apartment on Tower Drive. Upon knocking on the door, officers heard chains rattling inside. Upon entering, they discovered two boys, aged nine and seven, chained by their ankles to a post next to a sleeping cot.
The boys had visible marks on their ankles, consistent with the shape and size of the chains. The suspects, identified as Wendi Del Cid Rodriguez, 46, and Franklin Viera Guevara, 29, admitted to chaining the boys to 'scare them' and prevent them from leaving the home.
One of the boys managed to take a photo of his chained ankle using a roommate's cellphone and sent it to their sister, who promptly called 911. The roommate revealed that the boys were often left unsupervised and restrained when the suspects were not at home.
Rodriguez has been released on bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 2, while Guevara remains in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond. Guevara is set for a bond hearing and a competency hearing in the coming weeks.
This shocking case of child neglect and cruelty has sparked outrage in the community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and reporting any signs of abuse or neglect to authorities.
