This is an appalling case of child abuse and neglect in Richmond, Kentucky. Parents Stephanie Harmer (36) and Casey Farthing (41) allegedly locked their nonverbal autistic sons (ages 9 and 8) in a bedroom closet, where they clawed the walls bloody trying to escape. Both are jailed in Madison County Detention Center.
Discovery and Evidence
- A landlord reported $2,500 in damage after the family vacated; police found the apartment infested with cockroaches, dirty diapers, and human feces.
- Bedroom closet had an outside lock; walls showed claw marks and bloodied drywall.
- The couple’s 5-year-old daughter told Child Protective Services that “mommy and daddy lock the boys in the closet when they’re bad.”
- Kids showed severe neglect: unbrushed teeth, all still in diapers; one boy had dried blood and a broken nail on his fingers.
Charges and Status
- Both face:
- First-degree criminal abuse of a child (under 12)
- First-degree unlawful imprisonment
- First-degree criminal mischief (rental property)
- Arrested over the weekend; arraigned Monday in Madison County court. Kids are now under protective services.
The landlord disputed the parents’ claim that the outside lock pre-existed. This underscores how neglect can escalate to outright cruelty—hoping the children get the care they desperately need. Track updates via Madison County court records or WDKY/Fox affiliate.
