Missouri authorities who went looking for a missing person wound up finding skeletal remains, and now, two people are behind bars on a slew of criminal charges.
Investigators claim that Chaun Asbury started to run as they approached his Bucyrus residence. However, officers caught up with him and placed the father in handcuffs, according to reports.
Police in Texas County allegedly drove out to the home after a relative who is living in a different state requested a welfare check for Caesar Asbury.
The remains have not been formally identified yet, but investigators are confident that they belong to Caesar, who is 18.
Officials said that deputies searched the entire property for the missing teenager, and that one of them came upon the skeletal remains. At this time, the body has not been identified, though police strongly suspect the remains belong to the missing teen.
During the search, investigators determined the residence had no utilities or sewer.
Deputies also rescued three children from the home, according to police. One of them, cops said, was found locked in a shed, bound to a bed with zip ties.
Officers also noticed the children were in dire need of medical care. They were taken to the hospital, where one has been admitted.
The two other children have been placed in protective custody.
Chaun, 42, and his wife, 45-year-old Tamla Asbury, each face five counts of child abuse, and they are being held on $100,000 cash bonds.
Texas County Sheriff Scott Lindsey said this was the most severe case of child abuse he has encountered in his career.
“This is absolutely the worst case of child abuse and neglect that I have encountered in my 28-plus years of law enforcement,” Lindsey said. “The life that was lost and the other lives of the children that were affected by this situation are a horrible tragedy.”
Additional charges are likely as the investigation carries on.
“I would remind everyone that the charges filed at this time are preliminary results and as this investigation continues, I would anticipate more charges to be presented for prosecution,” Lindsey said.
It was unclear if the Asburys had attorneys, and they have yet to appear before a judge to enter pleas to the charges they face.
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
