West Virginia Parents Face Neglect Charges After Autistic Child Found Locked in Room

A West Virginia couple faces child neglect charges after deputies discovered their 4-year-old child with autism locked in a bedroom. Joshua Vincent Moore, 40, and Kayla Renee Spruill, 37, were arrested last week following a domestic violence call at their Upshur County home on March 5. The child was found nude, behind two gates instead of a door, with blue stains on their feet and mouth, and appeared to have smeared feces on the wall.

Court documents indicate the couple and their 18-year-old daughter stated the non-verbal child was kept in the room for safety reasons. However, the daughter informed deputies that Moore frequently locks the child in the room while he smokes marijuana and plays video games. Spruill, who smelled of alcohol, registered a 0.1 on a breath test, admitting to drinking a bottle of wine earlier that day. Moore denied responsibility for the child's supervision, claiming Spruill instructed their eldest daughter to stay home.

Both Moore and Spruill are charged with child neglect with risk of injury and are currently held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on $25,000 cash-only bonds. The incident highlights severe concerns regarding child welfare and parental responsibility. The current whereabouts of the 4-year-old child remain undisclosed in reports.