St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of child abuse in the 20000 block of Roh Ranch Lane in Callaway on Monday, July 20, after a caller reported a young child was being held in a closet.
Upon arrival, deputies obtained consent to enter the residence and discovered a closet door secured with a bungee cord. Inside, they found a 4-year-old child who was taken for medical evaluation.
A search warrant was obtained and served. Deputies described the closet as being in deplorable condition with no working light and no edible food present.
Further investigation revealed three adults and five children resided in the home. The other four children did not require medical attention.
The child’s mother, Kaylynn Nicole Moore, 28, told deputies the child was left in the closet daily for approximately 12 hours. Moore’s boyfriend, James Earl Stone, 27, admitted to using the bungee cord to secure the door.
Both Moore and Stone were charged with child abuse and seven counts of child neglect. They were transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown to await bond hearings.
The case remains under investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Child Protective Services. Authorities emphasized the importance of reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
