‘Horrific’ room found where starving 7-year-old had been tied up, AR cops say

A 7-year-old boy weighing 28 pounds arrived in critical condition at a hospital, leading authorities to a “horrific” Arkansas home, police say.

The boy’s parents, Chris and Katelyn Freeman, took him to a hospital in Little Rock on Tuesday, July 15, and he was close to death, the Russellville Police Department said in a news release.

“Medical staff described the child as pale, limp, and extremely underweight at just 28 pounds,” police said. “Doctors called this condition ‘near fatality’ due to years of severe, prolonged malnutrition.”

Concerned about the circumstances that might have led to the boy’s condition, the hospital reached out to police, the department said.

Officers searched the parents’ home, which was messy and in a state “unfit for children,” police said, though multiple children lived at the address.

“The home, while cluttered, had plenty of food and several thousand dollars in cash,” police said.

Officers said they discovered a closet that had been converted into a room and learned that the boy and a 5-year-old sibling were often confined in the closet and tied up with ropes as punishment.

“The closet showed signs of frequent use, including urine and feces on the floor and worn-down walls and door hardware,” police said.

According to police, the parents told investigators that they would lock the child in the closet and didn’t seek medical help for him due to “fear of repercussions and embarrassment.”

Authorities say the abuse the child endured at the home was “physical and mental torture.”

The Freemans were arrested on charges including battery and endangering the welfare of a minor, police said, though more charges may be brought as the investigation continues.

“Even though the details of this case are horrific and disturbing, I am extremely proud of the perseverance and professionalism displayed” by investigators, Chief David Ewing said in the release.

As of the afternoon of July 16, the boy was still hospitalized in critical condition, and two siblings were taken into the custody of the Department of Human Services, according to Ewing.

Russellville is a roughly 80-mile drive northwest from Little Rock.

This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 11:51 AM with the headline "‘Horrific’ room found where starving 7-year-old had been tied up, AR cops say."