IREDELL COUNTY, North Carolina—Two people have been arrested after a 12-year-old boy was beaten and left duct-taped to a chair overnight, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.
The person who reported the alleged abuse had received text messages and images of a boy who was duct-taped to a chair in the home.
Investigators said they determined 71-year-old Frances Kay Campbell Miller held the boy’s hands behind his back while 20-year-old Dustin Webb Miller punched the child in the face. Deputies said the boy had an orbital fracture to his face.
Authorities said Frances Miller then duct-taped the child to a chair and left him there overnight.
Officials said she is the child’s guardian, and Dustin Miller is the boy’s brother.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty spoke with Dustin Miller outside the home and asked him about the allegations.
“A lot of people took this out of proportion, blown it. Nobody wanted my side of the story, so here I am. I love my brother. I guess we’ll find out once this all gets sorted out,” Dustin Miller said.
“Did you ever duct-tape him?” Faherty asked.
“No, I did not,” Dustin Miller replied.
The Iredell County Department of Social Services was called to the home and took temporary custody of the victim as well as other children living there.
Frances Miller is charged with felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury, two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor false imprisonment.
Dustin Miller is charged with felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury and misdemeanor simple assault.
How to Report Suspected Child Maltreatment
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, contact your local child protective services office or law enforcement agency so officials can investigate and assess the situation. Most states have a number to call to report abuse or neglect.“Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children),” according to Childhelp.