Parents accused of locking teen in basement, agree to release custody

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Two parents accused of locking one of their 10 children in a basement have agreed to let a judge decide where the children should live in the short term.
 
In exchange for the deal, Therien Wimbush and Recardo Wimbush have the right to petition the court for custody if they get out of jail.
 
The former Georgia Tech football star and his wife were arrested last summer on allegations they locked the teenager in the basement for months because of disciplinary problems.
 
The couple insists they were just following their Old Testament beliefs and did nothing wrong.
 
"I think what we have here is a mixture of highly intelligent people who have a different mix on religion," said Therien Wimbush's attorney, Alex Manning.
 
Manning claimed allegations of abuse have been overblown.
 
"The child is in a dungeon, it brings back these visions of 'Silence of the Lambs.' It was a finished basement," Manning said.
 
Attorneys for the state and children disagree.
 
"This is not a freedom of religion case. This is a case about a child who was tortured, and subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by his parents," said attorney Leanne Chancey.
 
Channel 2's Tony Thomas broke the story of the arrest of Therien and Recardo Wimbush last summer.
 
Last November, Therian Wimbush sat down in an exclusive jailhouse interview, during which she insisted the state had overreacted and was causing her children harm.
 
Therien and Recardo Wimbush are being held without bond on the child cruelty charges.
 
The couple insists their children were in better care while living at home than in foster care.
 
On Thursday, the judge will begin hearing testimony on where the children should stay and with whom.

WSBTV