A Connecticut woman faces charges after being accused of making her son sleep in a locked dog crate because he was acting out and soiling his bed.
Kathlyn Anthony of Old Saybrook was released on $100,000 bond following an initial court appearance Monday on a charge of risk of injury to a minor.
The 54-year-old woman was arrested Sunday after an investigation. Police say the boy's sister told school officials that she was tired because she kept getting up at night to let her brother out of his "sleep locker." The sister told police that her brother "can't get out when in the sleep cubby as the door is closed and locked," local station WFSB reported. She said she started locking him in "as mother got tired of doing it."
Police say the crate was 36 inches by 22 inches, and 30 inches high.
Anthony told police she had been seeking outside help for the boy's behavior. She refused to comment outside court.
"She did make efforts to remediate some issues with the child, and I commend her for that, although it's not normal practice for a parent/guardian to put a child into a dog crate for an extended period of time," Sgt. Kevin Roche said according to WFSB.
She also told police that she chose the pet crate because the children had played in it when the family kept litters of kittens inside, WFSB said. The crate had "good memories for both kids and the family," Roche said.
Police didn't disclose the boy's age or his school to protect his identity.