Local

Police say couple nailed door to toddler's room

MARIETTA, Ga.,None — Police arrested a Cobb County couple when they found children living in deplorable conditions, and one child locked in a room with the door nailed shut.

Kyle Erwin Skinner, 24 and Cindy Marie Cantu, 23, were arrested earlier this week.

Officers were forced to kick down a door at the couple’s Millwood Drive home to rescue a 3-year-old boy who they found wearing a soiled diaper and sitting on the floor with rotting milk and food, according to the arrest warrant. Police said they could find no clothing in the house for the child, and no food for a 10-month-old infant who was also living in the home. Officers said the younger child had a severe diaper rash.

Investigators said they found the rest of the home filled with insects, rotting food, soiled diapers and standing water in the shower.

Police went to the home while investigating domestic violence allegations involving Skinner and Cantu, who is pregnant. The arrest warrant states Skinner hit Cantu multiple times, sat on her abdomen and then took money from her. Cantu was treated at Wellstone Kennestone Hospital for her injuries.

Skinner is charged with battery to a pregnant woman, cruelty to a child, contributing to the deprivation of a minor and assault on an unborn child. He’s held in the Cobb County Jail on $25,000 bond.

Cantu is charged with cruelty to a child and contributing to the deprivation of a minor. She is also being held the Cobb County Jail on $15,000 bond.

According to jail records obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Skinner has been arrested three times in the last month. He was cited on Oct. 26 for driving with a suspended license, failure to maintain lane, and for having Alprazolam pills in his vehicle. Skinner was arrested again on Nov. 5 for driving on a suspended license, records show.