BRICK – An 8-year-old boy was locked in his room for an unspecified number of days without a bed, lights, or toys or being allowed to use the bathroom, police said.
A concerned person called authorities asking for them to do a wellness check on the child. Police and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency went to the Queen Ann Road home on January 9, 2016. Police said they found the child locked in his room “in abhorrent conditions.” It didn’t have any furniture and he wasn’t allowed to see the rest of his family. It reeked of urine, since the child was not allowed to go to the bathroom.
The boy and two other children were removed from the house and brought to a hospital for medical evaluation. They were then placed in foster care, police said.
The jury found Donna Jung, 57, of Lehigh Acres, Florida and Helecia Morris, 41, of Brick guilty of Endangering the Welfare of a Child for incidents that occurred between April 1, 2015 and January 9, 2016. Morris is the boy’s biological mother.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said their sentencing will be on July 7, at which time they face up to ten years New Jersey State Prison. He commended Senior Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater who tried the case on behalf of the State. He also thanked his Special Victims Unit, Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Brick Police the DCPP.
