A Pleasant Hill couple accused of starving their son with special needs has agreed to plea deals.Richard Joe Ryan and his wife Jennifer Ryan were charged with first-degree kidnapping and neglecting a dependent person in April of 2021.According to court documents, Jennifer Ryan brought her son to work with her at Smith Automotive in Pleasant Hill on Feb. 22, where she zip-tied him to a chair by his left ankle and pants belt loop in a chair by her desk during her eight-hour shift. Pleasant Hill Police Det. Tim Brown said a private citizen contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services after seeing the teen zip-tied to the chair.Doctors at Blank Children’s Hospital diagnosed the teen with severe malnutrition. He weighed 78 pounds when he arrived at the hospital. Further investigation found the teen was routinely confined to his room and forbidden to leave or use the restroom at night without the permission of an escort.Court documents said Jennifer and Richard Ryan placed an alarm on his door to alert family members if he attempted to leave . Authorities said the teen was not permitted to eat breakfast but usually at lunch or dinner, which consisted of leftovers from the day before.New court documents show Richard Ryan has accepted a plea deal on reduced charges of false imprisonment, neglect of a dependent person and two counts of child endangerment. He’s scheduled to be sentenced April 1.Court documents also Jennifer Ryan will agree to a plea deal in court on April 1.
A Pleasant Hill couple accused of starving their son with special needs has agreed to plea deals.
Richard Joe Ryan and his wife Jennifer Ryan were charged with first-degree kidnapping and neglecting a dependent person in April of 2021.
According to court documents, Jennifer Ryan brought her son to work with her at Smith Automotive in Pleasant Hill on Feb. 22, where she zip-tied him to a chair by his left ankle and pants belt loop in a chair by her desk during her eight-hour shift.
Pleasant Hill Police Det. Tim Brown said a private citizen contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services after seeing the teen zip-tied to the chair.
Doctors at Blank Children’s Hospital diagnosed the teen with severe malnutrition. He weighed 78 pounds when he arrived at the hospital. Further investigation found the teen was routinely confined to his room and forbidden to leave or use the restroom at night without the permission of an escort.
Court documents said Jennifer and Richard Ryan placed an alarm on his door to alert family members if he attempted to leave. Authorities said the teen was not permitted to eat breakfast but usually at lunch or dinner, which consisted of leftovers from the day before.
New court documents show Richard Ryan has accepted a plea deal on reduced charges of false imprisonment, neglect of a dependent person and two counts of child endangerment. He’s scheduled to be sentenced April 1.
Court documents also indicate Jennifer Ryan will agree to a plea deal in court on April 1.
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