Jennifer and Richard Ryan have been charged with first-degree kidnapping and neglect of a dependent person. Author: Elizabeth Christy Updated: 8:36 AM CDT April 20, 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines couple is accused of starving and zip tying their 16-year-old son with special needs, according to court documents.
Jennifer Ryan, 48, and Richard Ryan, 47, are charged with first-degree kidnapping and neglect of a dependent person.
According to court documents, on February 22nd, Pleasant Hill Police and the Department of Human Services responded to a call to Smith Automotive in Pleasant Hill and found the teen zip-tied to a chair by his left ankle and through a belt loop on his pants.
Updated: 9:04 AM CDT Apr 19, 2021 A Des Moines couple faces charges after police said their 16-year-old son with special needs was zip-tied to a chair. Court documents detail abuses the boy suffered.Court documents show the incident happened Feb. 22. According to police, 48-year-old Jennifer Marie Ryan brought her 16-year-old son to work with her at Smith Automotive in Pleasant Hill. She then zip-tied the boy to a chair by his left ankle and pants belt loop in a chair adjacent to her desk. Court documents show Pleasant Hill Police were contacted and the boy was removed by Iowa Department of Human Services officials and transported to Blank Children’s Hospital. The boy, identified as J.R. in court documents, was examined there and diagnosed with severe malnutrition, weighing only 78 pounds when he was admitted.“Further investigation found that J.R. was routinely confined to his bedroom for several months and on occasion restrained to his bed frame by zip ties. He was no