MUNCIE, Ind. – An Indiana couple has been arrested for severe neglect and abuse of their 10-year-old son, including starvation, physical restraints, and forced isolation, according to police.
Melody Rose Greenwood, 38, and Adam Jon Greenwood, 36, each face preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent after their malnourished son was discovered in distress at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
The Muncie Police Department launched an investigation after doctors found signs of nutritional neglect and child abuse. The Indiana Department of Child Services also interviewed the child’s seven siblings, uncovering shocking details of mistreatment.
According to reports, the 10-year-old was only fed canned food such as beans, tomatoes, and soup, while the rest of the family ate normal meals like cheeseburgers and fast food.
He was forced to stand against a wall for up to 12 hours a day, often with a towel covering his head to prevent him from watching TV. His siblings were allegedly encouraged to beat him if he spoke or moved.
The child also reported that his mother used zip ties to restrain him, leaving them so tight that he experienced pain. An officer confirmed that scars and marks on his wrists were consistent with restraints.
In addition to the abuse, authorities found that two older siblings were primarily responsible for homeschooling the children, which was limited to reading three chapters of a book per day while the parents were at work.
Melody Greenwood was charged with three counts of neglect of a dependent and booked into the Delaware County Jail before being released on a $15,000 bond. Adam Greenwood was charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and was released on a $10,000 bond.
The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case to determine whether to file formal charges against the couple.
