Teens forced to pose with noose around necks as they stood on chair under tree, cops say

Three people are accused of hanging a noose from a tree and forcing two teens to pose with it around their necks, Iowa authorities said.

Des Moines residents Jerry Paul Nelson, 70, Danise Helyne Nelson, 68, and Jennifer Jean Nelson, 38, were arrested Sept. 7 on charges of child endangerment , harassment, going armed with intent, conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, and assault with intent to inflict serious injury in connection to the Aug. 11 incident, The Gazette reported.

McClatchy News was unable to locate attorney information for the Nelsons.

According to a criminal complaint, a park ranger with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Jerry Nelson tied and hung the noose from a cedar tree at Lake Wapello State Park, then all three adults instructed the teenagers to get a chair from a nearby cabin and put it underneath the tied rope, the outlet reported.

Court records show the Nelsons told the teens to stand on the chair with the noose around their necks and pose for photographs, the Des Moines Register reported.

One boy told authorities he was uncomfortable with the situation but did what he was asked “to keep the peace,” the outlet reported.

Court records show the teens were born in 2007 , the Ottumwa Courier reported.

It has not been reported how the Nelsons were connected to the teens or what they intended to do with the photos.

All three Nelsons were released from jail on bonds of $10,000 each and were ordered to have no contact with the teens, the Ottumwa Courier reported.

Lake Wapello State Park is about a 100-mile drive southeast from Des Moines.

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