Parents arrested after 3-year-old child was found locked in cage full of bugs and soiled bedding

A CHILD was found locked in a cage full of bugs and soiled bedding after parents fled the scene.

Police searched a home in Logan, Ohio on Sunday and found a three-year-old locked in a cage made out of a Pack n Play secured with zip ties.

5

5

The cage was full of bugs, soiled bedding, and a cup of spoiled milk.

“The sheets were soiled and we actually tried to get him a sippy cup. There was green spoiled milk in it and there were bugs. I don’t want to guess what they were inside,” Chief Deputy Caleb Moritz told ABC6.

A two-year-old boy was also found in the apartment walking around with a meth pipe.

“We saw a little girl walking around with a silver object and we grabbed it from her and found a commonly used methamphetamine pipe,” Moritz said.

The children’s parents, Franklin “TJ” Varney, 38, and Megan Smith, 25, fled police after becoming involved in a sexual assault investigation that prompted the search, leaving their toddlers in atrocious conditions.

According to police, a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted and robbed by Varney and Smith inside the home.

Police arrested grandmother Ella Webb, 61, who has custody of the children.

Cops did not find the parents, Varney and Smith, until Monday, after chasing them on foot through the woods near the ranched home.

“Being locked up doesn’t do them justice,” Sheriff Lanny North said.

He said he had never seen anything like it after police searched the home.

“The grandmother was given custody of the children because Mr. Varney couldn’t take care of himself,” Moritz said.

“You all proved last night in this house that no one is capable of looking after these children in the way they should.”

He added, “The children are the real victims of this.”

The children were placed with an emergency foster family “for safekeeping,” according to the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office.

Varney has a record of gun violence and a previous domestic violence warrant, police said.

Smith was also wanted for failing to appear in court in Athens County for possession of heroin and evidence tampering, according to Sheriff North.

Webb, Varney and Smith have all been charged with child endangerment, which is a third-degree felony, but Varney and Smith are expected to face additional charges if the case goes before a grand jury.

Police said Webb is being held in the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office jail awaiting her first hearing.

It’s unclear where Varney and Smith are currently being held.

5

5

5