Mother, Boyfriend Arrested After Two Children Found Chained Up Inside Home

Authorities in Virginia arrested a woman and her boyfriend on child abuse charges last month. The Fairfax County Police Department said that Wendi Del Cid Rodriguez , 46, and Franklin Viera Guevara , 29, were charged with two counts of child neglect , two counts of child cruelty, and two counts of abduction.

Officials said that officers received a report about child neglect and went to check on the children. When officers arrived at their Fairfax apartment, they found two boys, ages seven and nine, chained to a post by their ankles . The boys had physical marks on their ankles that matched the size and shape of the chains.

Rodriguez and Guevara admitted to chaining the two boys up to "scare them" so they would not leave the apartment.

A roommate who lived in the house told the police the couple would chain the two boys up whenever they left . The roommate reportedly gave one of the children a cellphone, which he used to take a photo of his chain and send it to his sister, who called the police.

Rodriguez was released on bond, while Guevara was denied bond and remained locked up.