Akron police
Two people are accused of neglecting and torturing their children and step children.
(Adam Ferrise, NEOMG)
AKRON, Ohio — Parents of five children less than 16 years of age are accused of neglecting and torturing their kids and stepchildren, including a 4-year-old boy found with a dead cockroach inside his breathing tube.
Wayne N. Cunard, 45, and Christian Cunard, 41, each face seven third-degree felony counts of child endangering in Akron Municipal Court. A judge set bond for both at $50,000 on Tuesday.
Their cases are scheduled to be presented to a Summit County grand jury on Dec. 2.
Children's Services alerted police to the condition of the children— ages 15, 8, 6, 5 and 1— on Sept. 14.
Social workers reported the children were being neglected.
Case agents were scheduled to investigate, police reports say. A joint investigation with police found the children were not fed and are all underweight, court records say.
The 6-year-old boy was tied to a chair with a rope. The dead cockroach was found inside the breathing tube of their 4-year-old son who suffers from cystic fibrosis.
The home's condition is "deplorable" and is infested with pests, according to court records.
Christian Cunard was charged earlier this year with housing code violations and failing to provide a sanitary environment.