Liberty couple accused of confining children to bedroom for extended periods of time

LIBERTY, Missouri - A Liberty couple has been accused by authorities of confining five children to bedrooms covered in feces for extended periods of time.

Prosecutors charged Paul E. Jenkins with five counts of felony endangering the welfare of a child less than 17 years old. His wife, Bethany J. Jenkins, was also charged with five counts of felony endangering the welfare of a child less than 17 years old.

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Officers were called around 11 a.m. Tuesday to a home in the 600 block of Gallatin Street on a report of a man threatening his children with a knife.

When officers arrived, they handcuffed Paul Jenkins, who was standing at the door, and put him in a patrol car.

Inside, they saw a black coaxial cable knotted around a bedroom doorknob.

When police opened the door, they found four children, ages 8, 7, 3 and 2, inside the bedroom.

According to court documents, the room had a feces smell and it was smeared on the walls and carpet. There were two beds in the room, but neither had sheets nor blankets.

Two of the children told police they had been shut in the room for long periods of time.

Officers found a fifth child, almost a year old, in another bedroom that was also covered in fecal material.

According to police, the house was cluttered with clothing and miscellaneous items. It was also littered with fecal material.

All of the children have been taken out of the home by the Department of Family Services and placed into protective custody.

Bond has been set at $100,000 for Bethany Jenkins and $200,000 for Paul Jenkins.