Inset, left to right: Jonathan Parr and Jacquelyn Coleman (Licking County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area in Ohio where the couple allegedly abused their kids (WCMH).
A 37-year-old father and a 32-year-old mother in Ohio are accused of abusing nine children in their care, allegedly forcing the kids to stand for hours with nails between their toes and locking them in cages to keep them from “stealing food at night.”
Jonathan Parr and Jacquelyn Coleman were arrested and charged with third-degree felony child endangerment over the alleged abuse, authorities said.
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According to a news release from the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, detectives searched a home in the 13000 block of National Road SW in Etna Township on Oct. 13 after receiving a referral from Child Protective Services (CPS) about possible abuse and neglect.
Twelve people, ranging in age from 1 to 64, lived at the property, including nine children between the ages of 1 and 13. Parr was the father of seven children, while Coleman was the mother of all nine, authorities said.
“Upon executing the search warrant, detectives encountered appalling and unsafe living conditions that raised serious concerns for the health, safety, and well-being of the children residing in the home,” the release states. “All nine juveniles were removed from the residence and placed in the custody of [CPS].”
The criminal complaint states the alleged conduct occurred between April 6, 2023, and Oct. 13, 2026, and describes the allegations in the CPS referral:
“The referral outlined physical abuse, including failure to provide food and water, insufficient living space, and juveniles being forced to stand for hours with nails between their toes and locked behind cages or barriers,” the document states.
The complaint alleges Parr and Coleman subjected the children to “corporal punishment” and physically restrained them “in a cruel manner or for a prolonged period” that “created a substantial risk of serious physical harm.”
A 10-page case report obtained by Law&Crime provided additional details about the allegations against the defendants.
One child allegedly told a CPS worker that he and his brother were “forced to stand against the wall, in a squatted position with their hands in the air for extended periods of time.”
“These wall squats are done daily, at all hours of the day, not just as a form of punishment,” the report states. “[The victim] reported that his stepfather, [Parr] had cameras pointed at the wall to make sure they were on the wall.”
The report also described nails being placed between the children’s toes so they “would not move or lean to one side.” Coleman reportedly told investigators she disagreed with the wall-squat punishment but allowed it because she “didn’t have another place to stay.”
The report also describes the “deplorable” state of the family’s home.
“The bathroom was an abomination,” the deputy wrote. “The toilet was black from filth. There were dirty dishes covering the shower floor with bugs crawling over them.” Near the bathroom entrance, the deputy reported finding “a pile of what appeared to be green feces with bugs crawling in and out of it.”
At least four children lived in a shed on the property with Parr and Coleman.
When a social worker said she knew about the wall squats and asked one of the victims about them, the child “immediately became fearful and started crying,” before saying, “No, I can’t do this, I can’t do this, please, I have to go. I can’t talk to you,” the report says. The boy then “ran out of the room” and could not be persuaded to discuss the alleged punishments.
Parr denied the allegations during a court appearance, saying, “It’s not true. I love my kids. I would die for my kids,” courtroom footage posted by Columbus-based CBS affiliate WBNS showed.
Parr and Coleman are being held at the Licking County Justice Center, each on a $150,000 bond. They are scheduled to appear for preliminary hearings on Oct. 23.
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