A West Virginia couple was jailed earlier this month, after their 8-year-old daughter allegedly jumped out of a window to beg strangers for food.
WOWK reported that Ellio and Ryan Hardman, 33, were arrested after their barefoot child jumped out of a second-story window at their Calhoun County home and went to a Family Dollar. During the July 7 incident, the girl allegedly told employees that her parents often told her and her three siblings that they did not want them.
According to the news outlet, Hardman’s daughter also stated that all they have eaten in days was a sandwich one of them made.
“The little girl she came through the store, just walked up to us,” a Family Dollar employee recalled to WOWK. “And said, ‘I’m hungry. My mom and dad don’t want me no more. Do you have anything I can eat?’”
“So, we just took her to the back and took care of her until the cops got here,” another employee stated.
According to WCHS, the daughter told police she jumped out of a window because her parents would not let her out of the room. The parents reportedly said at the time they were unaware the girl had left and she has done this two times before.
The Hardmans, who appeared in court on Thursday, are charged with child neglect with risk of serious bodily injury or death and conspiracy. Their bonds were set at $100,000.
Reports indicated that the couple’s four children are in the care of Child Protective Services.
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[Feature Photo: West Virginia Regional Jail]