Child Living in Closet Under the Stairs; Starving to Death in Filthy Diaper

A father and pregnant stepmother have been arrested after they allegedly kept their five-year-old son locked under the stairs.

Police discovered a locked closet with a mattress after being called to a home following a disturbance last Thursday between Bradley Bleimeyer, 24, and his 16-year-old stepson. The teenager had allegedly objected to his younger stepbrother being kept under the stairs at the home in Spring, Harris County, Texas.

 

Authorities are investigating a father and stepmother who are accused of starving and locking their 5-year-old son in a closet at their Texas home

The child's stepmother Tammi Bleimeyer, 33, had fled the home with the boy before officers arrived, according to Clicktohouston. Bleimeyer, who is six months' pregnant, refused to return to the home when contacted by police.


She was tracked to a motel in Humble by her cellphone where she was found with the boy. The child was taken to hospital where he was treated for a large cut on his back, bumps and bruises and severe malnourishment.




He remains at Texas Children's Hospital where Child Protective Services have applied for emergency custody. Tammi Bleimeyer was charged with endangering a child and released on $2,000 bond.

Horrific: The boy's father Bradley Bleimeyer (left) and stepmother Tammi (right) allegedly locked the five-year-old boy under the stairs and starved him

Imprisoned: The boy was found in a closet under the stairs wearing his diaper. It is unclear how long he'd been held there.

Bradley Bleimeyer, who was already out on bond for a burglary charge, was also charged with endangering a child. The 24-year-old, who has spent time in jail and has string of prior convictions, is being held without bond. Bradley Bleimeyer is the biological father of the five-year-old.


His expectant wife is the biological mother of six children including the 16-year-old boy. All the children are being cared for by family but CPS is expected to gain custody shortly. The health of the other children is currently unknown.


Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman told Kens5 he had never seen anything like it in his 30 year career. 'He was severely under nourished, bone sticking out, bumps, bruises. His skin was coming off on his back. It's a horrific horrific situation,' he said.

Horrific: Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman said the abuse was the worst he'd seen in his thirty year career

The child was treated in hospital for cuts, bumps and bruises and was severely malnourished