Couple 'locked children in cage' before being arrested after boy's chilling plea

15 December 2023 , 02:34

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The couple lived in a quiet Florida suburb before being arrested (Image: WCJB)

A couple has been accused of locking their kids in a cage after their son made a heartbreaking plea at school.

Dustin Huff, 35, and Yurui Xie, 31, were arrested after their child told his teacher about being locked in a cage-like room at their Florida home, prompting a visit from child services.

Officials were shocked when they entered the couple's apartment. They found a large cage in the living room. The eldest son, who is six years old, told his teacher he didn't want to go home because he was scared of being put back in the cage.

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Yurui Xie, 31, who works at the University of Florida, were arrested on Friday after school officials reported her child complained of being kept in a cage (Gainsville Police Department)

Dustin Huff, 35, and his wife have both been arrested after it was discovered they kept one child in a large cage, and another in a turned over crib (Gainsville Police Department)

After hearing this shocking news, the teacher quickly called child protection services. Both parents were arrested after social workers and police inspected their home. Gainesville Police Sergeant John Pandak said, "I'm not used to walking in and seeing a cage where children are kept at night and, of course, when home alone,"

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The parents reportedly admitted to locking their older son in a homemade "cage" because of his ADHD and disobedience. The mom confessed she often locked her son in the cage while she worked, only letting him out when her husband came home.

The mom confessed to the police that she kept her son locked up while she was at work, and the dad would let him out when he got home. She said it was hard to find good childcare because of her son's behavior problems.

The older boy showed the cops where his 2 year old brother slept. The little one had to sleep in a crib turned upside down in the closet, according to the police.

Dustin Huff, 35, and Yurui Xie, 31, lived in a Florida suburb and worked as professors (WCJB)

The parents flipped the crib so the 2 year old couldn't get out at night, but soon, both parents were arrested for really bad child abuse because of how they made their kids sleep, the police said.

Now, the parents are in jail with bail set at $600,000. The mom says she didn't do what she's accused of, according to court records. The mom's lawyer told the U.S. Sun: "Ms. Xie is a committed mother and would never do anything to harm her children. The use of the word 'cage' is grossly inaccurate," The dad hasn't said if he's guilty and doesn't have a lawyer yet, court papers say.

After the parents were arrested, the school where they worked gave them a break. The U.S. Sun tried to get more information from the Gainsville City police.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.

Yelena Mandenberg