Doctor and wife accused of monthslong child abuse of special-needs son, MI cops say

The medical director of a clinic in Michigan and his wife are accused of abusing their 10-year-old son with special needs, authorities say.

The doctor, 57, and his wife, 49, were arrested Feb. 18 and charged with second-degree child abuse, according to the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office.

The Iron County Medical Care Facility said the doctor was “suspended immediately” from the center, where he is their medical director and attending physician.

Authorities determined the parents locked the 10-year-old boy “in a closet for several hours a day over the period of several months.”

McClatchy News is not naming the couple to protect the identities of their children.

The boy, who was only allowed to wear underwear for sleeping, was not given a mattress or bedding as he was made to sleep on the closet floor, the sheriff’s department said.

Deputies said the closet did not have heating or windows, and a lock on the door prevented him from leaving.

When deputies arrived at the home Feb. 17, they learned the boy had “defecated and urinated” in the closet and was forced to clean it up himself, the department said in a news release.

The 10-year-old, whose disabilities were not specified, was taken to a hospital and treated for possible frostbite to his feet, the sheriff said. Then, he was turned over to foster care with his two siblings, who also lived in the home.

The parents, whose alleged crimes are punishable by up to 10 years in prison, both posted bail and have been released from custody, authorities said. They were ordered to have no contact with their children.

The father was announced in March 2024 as the medical director of Iron County Medical Care Facility. Now, they are working on finding his replacement, the care center said in a Facebook post.

“As always, the care and comfort of our residents remains our top priority,” the facility said. “Thank you for your understanding as we navigate this difficult situation.”

Marquette County is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan about 300 miles north from Milwaukee.

This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Doctor and wife accused of monthslong child abuse of special-needs son, MI cops say."