Michael Gilman Charged With Chaining Daughter To Bed For 5 Weeks

A Sharp County, Ark. man is accused of chaining his 11-year-old daughter to a bed with a dog leash.

KAIT reports that, according to authorities, Michael Gilman allegedly kept his daughter restrained for five weeks while her mother was in New York with a family member.

"Some of the behavior of this child, the family is claiming they can't control, and a lot of what they did was for her safety," Det. Sgt. Ken Guidry told KAIT. "However, chaining a child to a bed, we just can't have that."

Gilman is charged with false imprisonment and first degree endangering the welfare of a minor.

Guidry told WMC-TV that the girl, who is now in protective custody, "could go as far as the bathroom, but was actually chained to her bed."

The girl eventually called authorities, who then arrested Gilman, according to WMC-TV.

The story comes the same week KHOU reported that police found 21 people, including 11 children, living in a single house in Dayton, Texas. Three of the children were tied to their beds, according to police.

If you, or someone you love is the victim of child abuse, call the Child Abuse Hotline.