Parents arrested for keeping 5 children in 'dungeon' with 'deplorable living conditions,' DA says
Two Pennsylvania parents are now in jail after allegedly leaving their five children trapped in what officials are calling a "dungeon," according to the Fayette County District Attorney's Office.
James Russell Kahl, 65, and Carly Kahl, 41, were arrested on Wednesday after allegedly keeping their five children -- ranging from ages 5 to 14 -- in "deplorable living conditions," the district attorney's office said in a press release on Wednesday.
Back on Aug. 8 at approximately 1:30 p.m., troopers responded to the couple's home in Redstone Township, Pennsylvania, after Fayette County Children and Youth Services received a complaint about the conditions in the house.
Once in the home, officials observed living conditions that included "no beds, boarded up windows, feces covered on the bedroom walls, fleas, limited clothing and no food," the district attorney's office said.
Officials determined that James Russell Kahl "locked the children's bedroom door from the outside trapping the children inside" throughout part of the day and all night, authorities said. This room "functioned as a dungeon with video cameras hardwired to the father's room," the district attorney's office said.
Authorities also found three deadbolt locks on the outside of the door with "no door handle for the children to escape."
A removal order was signed by a Common Plea judge and the children were "immediately removed from the home and placed into the care" of Fayette County Children and Youth Services, the district attorney's office said. Officials conducted forensic interviews with the victims over the past few weeks, and all five children "remain in placement," the district attorney's office said.
Then almost a month later, on Wednesday, a search warrant was served at the residence, with officials recovering a stun gun, replica pistol, drugs and drug paraphernalia, the district attorney's office said.
The parents were then arrested and taken into police custody, the district attorney's office said. They were charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of children, conspiracy, the use of an incapacitation device, marijuana use and the use and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.
The two were denied bail, according to court records.
After their preliminary arraignment on Thursday, the couple's next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17, according to court records.
The Fayette County District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. It is unclear if Carly Kahl has an attorney who can speak on her behalf. The office of James Russell Kahl's attorney did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.
