Pregnant stepmother and father 'kept starving 5-year-old son in a locked closet under the stairs'

  • Police discovered the room when called to a disturbance at the home last Thursday in Harris County, Texas
  • The child's stepmother Tammi Bleimeyer, 33, fled the scene with the boy but police tracked them to a motel
  • Tammi, who is six months' pregnant and has five children, has been charged with child endangerment
  • Husband Bradley Bleimeyer is being held without bond on same charge after already being out on bond for burglary charge

By Louise Boyle

Published: | Updated:


A father and pregnant stepmother have been arrested after they allegedly kept their five-year-old son locked under the stairs.

Police discovered a locked closet with a mattress after being called to a home following a disturbance last Thursday between Bradley Bleimeyer, 24, and his 16-year-old stepson.

The teenager had allegedly objected to his younger stepbrother being kept under the stairs at the home in Spring, Harris County, Texas.

WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES BELOW

Authorities are investigating a father and stepmother who are accused of starving and locking their 5-year-old son in a closet at their Texas home

Authorities are investigating a father and stepmother who are accused of starving and locking their 5-year-old son in a closet at their Texas home

The child's stepmother Tammi Bleimeyer, 33, had fled the home with the boy before officers arrived, according to click2houston.

Bleimeyer, who is six months' pregnant, refused to return to the home when contacted by police. She was tracked to a motel in Humble by her cellphone where she was found with the boy.

The child was taken to hospital where he was treated for a large cut on his back, bumps and bruises and severe malnourishment.

He remains at Texas Children's Hospital where Child Protective Services have applied for emergency custody.

Tammi Bleimeyer was charged with endangering a child and released on $2,000 bond.

Horrific: The boy's father Bradley Bleimeyer (left) and stepmother Tammi (right) allegedly locked the five-year-old boy under the stairs and starved him

Horrific: The boy's father Bradley Bleimeyer (left) and stepmother Tammi (right) allegedly locked the five-year-old boy under the stairs and starved him

Imprisoned: The boy was found in a closet under the stairs wearing his diaper. It is unclear how long he'd been held there

Imprisoned: The boy was found in a closet under the stairs wearing his diaper. It is unclear how long he'd been held there

Bradley Bleimeyer, who was already out on bond for a burglary charge, was also charged with endangering a child.

The 24-year-old, who has spent time in jail and has string of prior convictions, is being held without bond.

Bradley Bleimeyer is the biological father of the five-year-old. His expectant wife is the biological mother of six children including the 16-year-old boy.

All the children are being cared for by family but CPS is expected to gain custody shortly. The health of the other children is currently unknown.

Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman told Kens5 he had never seen anything like it in his 30 year career.

'He was severely under nourished, bone sticking out, bumps, bruises. His skin was coming off on his back. It's a horrific horrific situation,' he said.

MailOnline was awaiting a comment from Harris County Precinct 4 officers.

Horrific: The five-year-old boy was treated in hospital for severe malnutrition in Texas

Horrific: Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman said the abuse was the worst he'd seen in his thirty year career

The child was treated in hospital for cuts, bumps and bruises and was severely malnourished

The child was treated in hospital for cuts, bumps and bruises and was severely malnourished

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