Authorities said Friday a late-night phone call led them to the discovery of eight unattended children at a Texas home, including a 2-year-old boy chained in the backyard and a 3-year-old girl tied to a door with a dog leash.
(FOX)- The San Antonio mother of six children found inside, who returned after authorities arrived at the home, was charged with two felony counts. Prosecutors said officials were still searching for the toddlers who were restrained outside. Authorities believe they were siblings.
“I would describe it as disgusting,” Bexar County District Attorney Nicholas LaHood said of the scene. “It shocks your conscience when you think what kind of individual could treat children, who in my opinion are gifts from God, like this.”
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office spokesman James Keith said one of the toddlers found outside had a metal chain strapped to his ankle with the other end of the chain fixed to the ground.
“It was the same kind of setup you would use for a dog,” Keith added.
Two of the children, including one with a broken arm, remained hospitalized more than 12 hours after deputies first arrived to the house. The other six were placed in foster care. Officials were concerned that all the children may be malnourished, said Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
The five girls and three boys were between the ages of 10 months and 10 years old, Crimmins said.
Porucha Phillips, 34, was charged with two counts of injury to a child by omission. Her bond was set at $75,000 on each charge, according to the website of the Bexar County Magistrate.