Mom chains mentally disabled daughter to bed until sister finds her, PA cops say

Screams heard inside a home led to the discovery of a woman’s adopted sister chained to a bed, Pennsylvania authorities say.

Now, the victim’s mother faces more than a half dozen charges, including neglect of a care-depending person, following the May 29 discovery in Belle Vernon, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Troopers said the 22-year-old victim is mentally disabled, according to WPXI. Her mother, state police said, is tasked with caring for her.

But when the victim’s sister heard screams early Wednesday morning, she found her sister “chained and locked to the bed frame with chains located on her waist, neck and hands,” state police said.

The victim was unlocked by her sister, who state police said put “the chains, locks and keys into a box” and later called the authorities.

The mother made it home before troopers, and she took the box with her as she fled from the house, state police said. Authorities followed her into the Pittsburgh area, where she was placed into custody.

The victim said she had been chained for a week, and her only access to food in that time was sandwiches, according to the Observer-Reporter, citing police.

Court records show the mother was charged with neglect and endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person, reckless endangerment, simple assault, harassment, false imprisonment, unlawful restraining and tampering with physical evidence.

The 53-year-old woman was jailed in Fayette County and denied bail, according to the court records. She is due in court June 12.

This story was originally published May 29, 2024 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Mom chains mentally disabled daughter to bed until sister finds her, PA cops say."