A 4-year-old boy died after a North Carolina couple allegedly performed an amateur exorcism on their son, who later died.
The Foster Parents
A North Carolina couple has been charged with murder after their 4-year-old adopted son died from abuse, including an exorcism and being denied food, according to authorities.
Jodi Ann Wilson and Joseph Wilson were arrested earlier this month and were indicted this week by a grand jury on murder charges, according to the Surry County Criminal Court Clerk’s office. Both are being held without bail, online records show.
What Happened
The alleged abuse became deadly when dispatchers received a call on Jan. 5 from Joe Wilson about the child suffering from a seizure as a woman was heard in the background saying, “It’s my fault,” according to the court doc, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
Jodi Wilson reportedly texted her husband before the boy’s medical emergency that night “that something had happened with the swaddling with Skyler,” according to the warrant.
The document states that when first responders arrived, Skyler was attached to the floor with duct tape, according to a search warrant, was unresponsive, and not breathing.
The Treatment of the Foster Child
A former foster parent of Skyler’s told authorities that Jodi Wilson told her that Skyler was deprived of food and was “pouched” and swaddled.
The warrant said Jodie Wilson tole them that Skyler was also left alone in a gated room for excessive amounts of time. She also said children were subjected to exorcisms.
The warrant doesn’t provide details about the exorcisms.
A doctor reportedly told police that Skyler suffered brain injuries, possibly due to the restriction from swaddling.
The young boy died on Jan. 9 from not receiving enough oxygen to the brain, the search warrant states, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch, and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office launched a homicide probe into the parents.
The Wilsons also had three foster children in their home at the time of Skyler’s death. The remaining children are in the custody of the Surry County Department of Social Services, the sheriff’s office said.
The pair are being held on bond and have a Feb. 2 court date.
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