Nine children removed from Licking County, Ohio, home; couple charged with child endangerment

Mixed · 2Nine children aged 1 to 13 were removed from a home in Licking County, Ohio, on Tuesday 13 October 2026, where they were allegedly confined in cages or behind barriers and made to stand for hours. 1 2 Mixed · 2Jonathan Parr, 37, and Jacquelyn Coleman, 32 (spelled Jacqueline by The Independent), were taken into custody and face third-degree felony child endangerment charges, according to the Licking County Sheriff's Office. 2 1 Right · 1The New York Post reports Parr was arrested at the property, while Coleman left when officers arrived and was stopped in a traffic stop. 1

Left · 1The Independent says deputies acted on a referral from Child Protective Services, which followed a report from a local school district. 2 Mixed · 2Authorities described a heavy bug infestation and inadequate sleeping arrangements; at least four children lived with their parents in a shed on the property while the others lived in a mobile home or trailer. 2 1 Right · 1Investigators said the children were forced to stand for hours with nails between their toes and were locked behind cages or barriers; the Post adds that the cages were not for large dogs and that three dogs were also removed. 1

Mixed · 2Sheriff's Office Captain Jay Cook said some children described being made to stand against a wall in a 'wall-squat' position, sometimes as punishment and sometimes for no reason, and that they would sometimes stand there all day. 2 1 Left · 1The Independent adds that, per court records, the alleged abuse occurred on various dates back to April 2023 and included deprivation of food and water; the complaint alleges the pair used excessive restraint or corporal punishment creating a substantial risk of serious physical harm. 2 Mixed · 2Parr denied the allegations in court on Wednesday, saying he did not keep anyone in cages and that he loves his children. 1 2

Mixed · 2Accounts differ on parentage: the Post says Coleman is the biological mother of six of the children and that two were not Parr's biological children, while The Independent, citing court documents, says Coleman is the mother of all nine and Parr the father of seven. 1 2 Left · 1Twelve people aged 1 to 64 lived at the property, including the children's 64-year-old grandmother; officials declined to say whether the grandmother could face charges. The children were placed in child protective services custody, the investigation is continuing and more charges are possible. 2 Mixed · 2The pair are held on $150,000 bond at the Licking County Justice Center, and the Post says they are next due in court on 23 October. 2 1