Child Neglect Charges
Two West Virginia residents charged after an 11-year-old boy was locked in a cage
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An 11-year-old boy in West Virginia was locked inside a homemade cage built around his bed for hours at a time and beaten with a paddle, according to court documents. WBNG reports that Michael Gibson, 44, and Angela Gibson have been charged with child neglect creating substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Deputies found the locking cage during a search warrant at the Clarksburg home in September 2026.
The child told investigators he was struck so hard that the pain would last for days. West Virginia Sheriff Robert Matheny II called the scene "very disturbing," noting the juvenile "was kept in a man-made cage that was an enclosure around the bed." Both suspects are being held without bond at the North Central Regional Jail.
Boy Described Hours Locked in Homemade Cage
The victim disclosed the abuse during a forensic interview at a Child Advocacy Center. According to WBNG, the child said Michael Gibson confined him to a cage with four walls and a solid roof for extended periods. West Virginia Child Protective Services documented severe bruising across the boy's body in multiple stages of healing.
The boy also told investigators that if he soiled himself while trapped inside, he faced additional punishment. Court documents show he was beaten with a wooden paddle with enough force that physical pain persisted for days afterward.
Search Warrant Uncovers Cage in Victim's Bedroom
On September 4, 2026, Harrison County Sheriff's Deputies executed a search warrant at the Clarksburg residence. Investigators seized the locking structure—described in court filings as a homemade bed with four walls and a solid roof—located directly inside the victim's bedroom. Michael Gibson was taken into custody that same day.
Sheriff Robert Matheny II later characterized what deputies discovered as evidence of premeditated confinement and abuse. The physical cage became key evidence in the investigation, along with photographs documenting the child's injuries at various stages of healing.
Defendants Held Without Bond Pending Trial
Both Michael Gibson and Angela Gibson remain detained at the North Central Regional Jail without bond. WBNG reports they face felony charges including child abuse resulting in injury and child neglect creating substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Under West Virginia law, these charges carry potential multi-year prison sentences upon conviction.
The child has been placed in protective custody under West Virginia Child Protective Services. Next court proceedings include preliminary hearings in Harrison County Magistrate Court to determine probable cause before potential grand jury indictment.
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