Couple Accused Of Horrific Abuse Of Disabled Adult Son, Including Hitting, Caging and Starving Him

A West Virginia couple has been arrested for abusing their 21-year-old son so badly he had sores all over his body from neglect and violence, according to authorities.

Christina Boyles, 40, the disabled man's mother, and Herbert Boyles, 39, the stepfather, were arrested on Tuesday, according to WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia.

On June 3, police went to the couple's house in Parkersburg in response to a complaint about the neglect of an incapacitated adult male. When they found the man, he was severely malnourished and had wounds from where the couple would tie him up, investigators said. The victim has a genetic disability and is non-verbal. After being transported to the ER, staff discovered heinous abuse of the man's body. He had cysts all over his pelvic area, according to the criminal complaint, which could be from lying on some sort of hard surface for a long time. He was wearing a diaper, and when they removed it they found a lot of open sores around and on his genital area.

When detectives questioned family members, they said the Christina and Herbert Boyles kicked and hit their disabled son on several occasions, according to police.

The victim's brother allegedly told police that Christina Boyles tied up the victim in a metal cage and left him inside, and that she'd done it repeatedly. She'd also starve him and spray cleaning chemicals on his genitals and on his face, the criminal complaint alleges.

Both Boyles were charged with abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult, according to the AP. Herbert Boyles was given a bond of $60,000 and Christina Boyles had her bond set at $20,000. They're both still in jail, according to WOWK-TV.

[Photo: Parkersburg Police Department]