Disturbing allegations out of Wisconsin describe a yearslong pattern of abuse inside a family home, where six young children were allegedly deprived of food and subjected to repeated violence.
Authorities say Casey Cano, 38, and Mary Cano, 35, are now facing multiple felony charges tied to the treatment of their children, per Fox News.
According to court records, each has been charged with six counts of repeated physical abuse of a child, causing great bodily harm, as well as child neglect. They also face an additional count related to exposing a child under 13 to a sex act.
Prosecutors allege the abuse stretched from January 2018 through April 2022 at the family’s home in Crawford County.
During that time, the children were allegedly beaten with belts, leaving welts and even causing bleeding.
Investigators say the alleged mistreatment went beyond physical violence. The children were reportedly denied food as a form of punishment, sometimes for days at a time. Faced with extreme hunger, they allegedly resorted to eating mold, bugs, dog food, and even grass, according to criminal complaints.
The living conditions described in the case paint a grim picture. One child told authorities that a sibling was forced to wear a diaper for three days without being changed as “punishment.”
The children, who ranged in age from 1 to 9 during the alleged abuse, were ultimately removed from the home in April 2022. Their removal was connected to a separate sexual abuse case involving another child, according to the complaints. Coverage from WXOW noted that some of the alleged abuse began when the children were as young as three months old.
Court records indicate that Mary Cano’s charges include a “party to a crime” modifier, suggesting she is accused of failing to intervene to stop the abuse.
The case also follows prior convictions involving the couple. Both Casey and Mary Cano were convicted in 2022 of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old, WXOW reported.
A new investigation into the family began last December, eventually leading to the couple’s arrests in March. Both have since posted bond.
A date for their next court appearance has not yet been set.
