US couple charged after child’s skeletal remains found in back yard

Investigations began when youngest child told police about his parents

A Tennessee couple have been charged with multiple crimes after an investigation uncovered the skeletal remains of their daughter in the back yard of their home.

Michael Anthony Gray Sr., aged 63, and Shirley Ann Gray, aged 60, were charged on Monday with multiple crimes including child abuse, child neglect, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse.

Investigators say the couple had confined their daughter to a basement with nothing but bread and water for months, before her death in 2017.

The child’s body, which appeared to have been buried behind the property, was located on Saturday.

Authorities believe the child, who Mr Gray admitted was buried when investigators arrived at the home on Friday, was around 10 years old when she died.

According to WVLT News, the couple are also accused of abusing their three other children.

One son, aged around 15, was allegedly discovered living in the basement after Mr Gray admitted this to authorities.

“The house was filled with urine smell, faeces throughout the house, partially flooded basement,” said the Roane County court on Monday.

Investigators searched the address over the weekend after someone told police that the youngest child was walking alone near the family home.

Whilst his parents were unaware, Roane County authorities located the child who allegedly told them about the basement and the other child buried in the backyard, reported WVLT News.

Detectives then arrived at the house to investigate.

The couple also admitted that the children had not received medical or dental attention for at least six years prior to the investigation.

At the same time, authorities said the children had “stunted growth” and that the parents had withheld food from them as punishment.

The couple could face further charges.