CLEVELAND, June 20 (Reuters) - A fourth Ohio resident charged with holding an intellectually disabled woman and her young daughter against their will is also accused of smashing the woman's hand with a rock to get pain medication for the group, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Dezerah Silsby, was taken into custody on Wednesday and appeared in Cleveland federal court on Thursday, accused of being part of a group that conspired to force the woman to perform manual labor, threatened her with snakes, and forced her and her daughter to sleep in a padlocked room.
The 30-year-old woman, who prosecutors identified as "S.E.," and her 5-year-old child were held from May 2011 to October 2012 in an apartment in Ashland, about 70 miles (113 km) southwest of Cleveland, prosecutors said.
The arrests came a little more than a month after the discovery in Cleveland of three women who were held prisoner for about a decade in a home owned by former school bus driver Ariel Castro, who has been charged with rape, kidnapping and murder.
Police learned of the Ashland case after S.E. was caught shoplifting a candy bar and asked to be taken to jail, saying two people now charged in the case - Jordie Callahan, 26, and Jessica Hunt, 31 - were "mean to her," prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Callahan and Hunt recruited S.E to live with them and that Hunt used S.E.'s government benefits cards and rarely gave her money while forcing her to clean, do laundry and care for the animals, prosecutors said.
Records show S.E. was treated at a local emergency room at least three times for injuries she said were inflicted by defendants in the case, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors also said Callahan and Hunt forced S.E. to hit her child, threatening worse harm on both of them if she did not comply. The incident was recorded and used as a threat if she tried to leave.
Ed Bryan, Hunt's attorney, said on Tuesday the government's witnesses were unreliable. Attorneys for the other defendants could not be reached for comment.
The group, which also includes 33-year-old Daniel Brown III, was charged on Tuesday in what a prosecutor called a case of modern-day slavery. Silsby, 21, was released on Thursday after posting a bond. (Editing by David Bailey and Lisa Shumaker)
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.