Two women who locked boy in room in ‘abhorrent conditions’ found guilty of abuse, neglect
TOMS RIVER - Two women have been found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, after police found him locked in his room in Brick in ’abhorrent conditions’ with no bathroom, furniture or toys, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Friday.
Helecia Morris, 41, of Brick Township and Donna Jung, 57, of Lehigh Acres, Florida, were found guilty in connection with incidents that happened between April 1, 2015, and January 9, 2016, in Brick Township, Billhimer said.
On January 9, 2016, police and representatives from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency responded to a home on Queen Ann Road for a wellness check on Morris's eight-year-old son, the news release said. Officers found the boy locked in his room that "reeked of urine."
The eight-year-old and two other children were removed from the residence and taken to the hospital for medical evaluations, Billhimer said. All three were then placed in foster care.
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An investigation found that the boy was locked in his room day and night by Morris and Jung, according to the news release. He was not allowed to use the bathroom in the home and was excluded from socializing with the rest of the family. His room did not have a bed, furniture, lights or toys.
On January 11, 2016, detectives used a search warrant on the residence, and Morris and Jung were arrested, Billhimer said. Morris and Jung were transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released on bail.
Jung and Morris are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Lisa A. Puglisi on July 7, and could face up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, the prosecutor said. Both Morris and Jung were remanded into custody after the guilty verdict, and they will remain in the Ocean County Jail until their sentencing hearing.
Billhimer said the trial was delayed due to bail reform, the COVID-19 pandemic and other outside factors.
Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ news: 2 women guilty of child abuse, face 10 years in jail
