CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich — A Cedar Springs woman accused of keeping her boyfriend's child locked inside a small wooden box—without blankets, pillows, and at times, food—has taken a plea deal.
Jessica Kilgore pleaded guilty to second-degree child abuse on Thursday. The charge of unlawful imprisonment she was also facing has been dismissed.
Back in February, deputies conducting a welfare check found that a 7-year-old boy was being kept inside a "makeshift room" by his father, Michael Rus, and Kilgore, his girlfriend.
The "room" was a wooden box that was three feet wide and four feet deep.
Rus opened the door to the makeshift room to show deputies where the boy was forced to spend as long as 9.5 hours a day.
The box extends upward but the walls don't touch the ceiling, the investigator said. The door has a locking doorknob which was used to keep the child locked inside, according to court documents.
The boy slept on a small piece of foam, and there were no blankets or pillows inside the box.
Rus admitted to the abuse, saying he and Kilgore forced the boy to run, withheld food from him, and also forced him to stand outside in the cold as punishment.
Court documents said Rus and Kilgore were observed or admitted to striking the boy with open hands and closed fists.
Deputies say the boy was taken to a hospital for an evaluation due to his condition and the state of the home. He has been placed with care outside the home.
Both Rus and Kilgore were charged with unlawful imprisonment and second-degree child abuse.
Kilgore will be sentenced on July 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Rus was bound over to circuit court back in March. His status conference is scheduled for June 20.
Deputies are reminding the public that Child Protective Services can be reached at 855-444-3911. You can also contact support resources at 211 if you are concerned about the well-being of a child.
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