This is a picture of the coffin that Scranton Police say a 7-year-old boy was locked inside of last week. It allegedly happened inside a home that now sits condemned because of deplorable conditions.
Scranton Code Enforcement Officer Mark Seitzinger described the condition of the home. "We walked into the basement area, boards were burned out, floor joints were burned out. Electrical problems, heating problems, pretty much you name it. Plumbing issues..."
Detectives say the suspects locked the boy, who was wearing a diaper, in the coffin in the basement as punishment.
The boy also said the suspects told him "ghosts" were living there. On previous occasions investigators say the two would duct tape his arms down to a chair for punishment.
After breaking out of the coffin last monday night, the young boy was found by neighbors hungry and scared. According to court papers, when police arrived, the boy hugged an officer and asked "Are you here to help me?"
Besides the abuse accusations, code enforcement officials showed picture after picture of the dirty and dangerous conditions inside the home.
Seitzinger added, "We walked into a lot of flies, a lot of bugs flying around in the basement. There was a bathroom in the basement and when we opened up that door in the basement -- there were a lot of small flies."
The boy has been placed in protective custody.
TXT 24
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