2 Kids Found Chained In Fairfax Apartment, Mother Charged: Reports

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A mother is facing charges after authorities said they found her two children chained up inside a Fairfax County apartment, according to multiple reports.

The mother and partner were arrested last month after the boys, ages 9 and 7, were found in a Groveton apartment, NBC Washington first reported. Both have been charged with child abuse and child cruelty, according to The Associated Press.

According to reports, police were alerted to the situation when one of the children borrowed a cell phone from a roommate to call another adult. He sent them a picture of the handcuffs and chains, reports said.

The 47-year-old mother and 29-year-old man, who were not identified in reports, told police the siblings were chained by the ankle to “scare them so they wouldn’t leave the apartment,” according to the AP report citing court charging documents.

The roommate told police the kids were routinely chained when the mother and her partner were not home, reports said.

The boys are now in their father's custody, who did not live with them and was not charged, reports said.