Three people are facing criminal abuse charges following an investigation by the Columbia Police Department into the alleged mistreatment of four children.
Chief Evan Burton told WJRS NEWS officers responded around 11:45 Tuesday morning to a report of possible child abuse and neglect at a Columbia residence. During the investigation, officers determined that four juvenile children had allegedly been locked inside a bedroom for extended periods of time.
Arrested were 38-year-old Layton Ziegler, 29-year-old Kelcie C. Wendry, and 52-year-old Jennifer Akins, all of Columbia. Each is charged with Second-Degree Criminal Abuse involving a child 12 or under.
The three were lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail.
The investigation was led by Officer Trent Williams and Sergeant Trevor Foster.
