2-year-old boy found in makeshift cage, covered in fecal matter; mother arrested

A 24-year-old mother from upstate New York has been charged with child endangerment after police discovered her 2-year-old son confined in a cage at their Buffalo home, covered in feces and suffering from multiple broken bones.

New York State Police announced the arrest following a visit to the home on February 4th to serve a felony arrest warrant for the woman related to a separate incident. During this visit, officers found the toddler in a makeshift cage, constructed from a playpen covered with a crib piece tied to the top, preventing the child from standing or exiting.

The police report detailed the appalling conditions: the cage and the child were smeared with fecal matter, and the bedding was soaked in urine. Remnants of food, including chicken bones, were also found in the cage, adding to the squalor.

New York State Trooper James O’Callaghan described the scene as “disgusting.” Child Protective Services and EMS were immediately contacted, and the child was transported to a children’s hospital.

At the hospital, doctors found the boy had bruising on his face and body, as well as two fractured ribs in the healing stages, suggesting the injuries occurred between 10 days to two weeks prior. The mother claimed the injuries were from a fall down the stairs in late December 2023 or early January 2024 and admitted she did not seek medical help.

The woman was arrested and taken to a police station in Clarence. It is unclear if she was released on bond or if she has obtained legal representation.