ASHLAND, OH -- Three people are were arrested for holding a disabled mother and her daughter captive for more than two years.
The US Attorney is calling this a case of modern day slavery. Federal Officials say the mother and daughter in this case were beaten, forced to do manual labor, and threatened with snakes and pit bulls.
Ashland Police say the trio forced the mother and daughter to sleep in a padlocked room and even the pets in the house were fed better.
Jordie Callahan, 26, Jessica Hunt, 31 and Daniel Brown, 33 were taken into custody this morning and charged with forced labor.
According to authorities, Callahan and Hunt invited the mother and daughter to live with them in their two bedroom apartment. At this time its not clear how the couple and victims knew each other, but police say between May 2001 and October 2012 the mom and daughter were tortured.
When we were researching this disturbing story we found one of the suspects on Facebook. Jordie Callahan's page is full of pictures of two pit bulls and several large snakes. Prosecutors say these animals were used to keep the captives in check..
Ashland Police say the mother suffered a brain injury when she was 16 that left her with the mental capacity of 13 or 14 year old.
At the news conference Tuesday, Federal authorities talked about the abuse the woman and her daughter suffered.
"They were physically punished for toiletry accidents. And they were threatened not only with weapons, but also with vicious animals to include pit bulls and pythons," said Eric Smithi of the FBI on Tuesday.
As if this story cant get even more disturbing, Police say suspect Jessica Hunt's four small children lived in the home where all this was going on.
EARLIER COVERAGE...
ASHLAND -- WOIO in Cleveland is reporting that four people have been arrested for reportedly holding a mother and her child captive for years in Ashland.
The suspects are accused of beatings, threats of death and threats of attack from pit bulls and snakes to hold the woman and child for two years.
The U.S. Attorney called this "modern-day slavery" during a news conference.
WOIO reports that the suspects also reportedly made the woman do household chores. The woman and child were also, at times, not allowed to eat and forced to sleep in a padlocked room on a cement floor.
According to WOIO, investigators say the suspects forced the mother to hit her child and videotaped it, claiming they would show it to police if she left.
In October 2012, WOIO reports, the mother allegedly stole a candy bar while shopping for the suspects. She told police the people at the house were mean. An investigation was launched and officials conducted a raid at the Ashland home on Tuesday.
Officials say the woman and her child are recovering.
The suspects are to be arraigned in Federal Court later Tuesday.
The US Attorney is calling this a case of modern day slavery. Federal Officials say the mother and daughter in this case were beaten, forced to do manual labor, and threatened with snakes and pit bulls.
Ashland Police say the trio forced the mother and daughter to sleep in a padlocked room and even the pets in the house were fed better.
Jordie Callahan, 26, Jessica Hunt, 31 and Daniel Brown, 33 were taken into custody this morning and charged with forced labor.
According to authorities, Callahan and Hunt invited the mother and daughter to live with them in their two bedroom apartment. At this time its not clear how the couple and victims knew each other, but police say between May 2001 and October 2012 the mom and daughter were tortured.
When we were researching this disturbing story we found one of the suspects on Facebook. Jordie Callahan's page is full of pictures of two pit bulls and several large snakes. Prosecutors say these animals were used to keep the captives in check..
Ashland Police say the mother suffered a brain injury when she was 16 that left her with the mental capacity of 13 or 14 year old.
At the news conference Tuesday, Federal authorities talked about the abuse the woman and her daughter suffered.
"They were physically punished for toiletry accidents. And they were threatened not only with weapons, but also with vicious animals to include pit bulls and pythons," said Eric Smithi of the FBI on Tuesday.
As if this story cant get even more disturbing, Police say suspect Jessica Hunt's four small children lived in the home where all this was going on.
EARLIER COVERAGE...
ASHLAND -- WOIO in Cleveland is reporting that four people have been arrested for reportedly holding a mother and her child captive for years in Ashland.
The suspects are accused of beatings, threats of death and threats of attack from pit bulls and snakes to hold the woman and child for two years.
The U.S. Attorney called this "modern-day slavery" during a news conference.
WOIO reports that the suspects also reportedly made the woman do household chores. The woman and child were also, at times, not allowed to eat and forced to sleep in a padlocked room on a cement floor.
According to WOIO, investigators say the suspects forced the mother to hit her child and videotaped it, claiming they would show it to police if she left.
In October 2012, WOIO reports, the mother allegedly stole a candy bar while shopping for the suspects. She told police the people at the house were mean. An investigation was launched and officials conducted a raid at the Ashland home on Tuesday.
Officials say the woman and her child are recovering.
The suspects are to be arraigned in Federal Court later Tuesday.