WV - Girl, 8, jumps out 2nd story window, walks to store & begs for food, Arnoldsburg, 7 July 2023 *parents arrested*

[imstilla.grandma]

An 8-year-old girl who was allegedly starved by her parents jumped out a second-story window clutching her teddy bear — and then begged strangers for food, authorities said.

The little girl’s parents, Ryan Keith Hardman and Ellio M. Hardman, both 33, were slapped with neglect of a child charges after their daughter escaped their home in Arnoldsburg, West Virginia, earlier this month, WOWK reported.

The child, who was barefoot at the time, had walked into a nearby Family Dollar at 10:30 p.m. July 7 and told employees she hadn’t eaten in several days, according to a criminal complaint.

“The little girl, she came through the store, just walked up to us … And said, ‘I’m hungry. My mom and dad don’t want me no more. Do you have anything I can eat?,’” said Kelly Hutchinson, a Family Dollar employee.

The girl said the last thing she had eaten was a sandwich that had been given to her by a sibling three days earlier, according to the complaint.

“Me having kids of my own, it just broke my heart her saying she was hungry and haven’t ate,” said another employee, Sandra Knicley. “No little girl should ever feel like she’s not wanted. No kid, for that matter.”

When officers arrived, the starving girl said she was forced to jump out the second-story window because her parents allegedly wouldn’t let her come downstairs.

She also alleged her parents would often punish her by locking her in her room for up to a week without food.

A subsequent search of the family’s home uncovered “food in the cupboards, food pantry, refrigerator and freezer for the entire family,” the complaint said, adding that none of the food was expired.

Authorities also allegedly found drug paraphernalia at the property.

The girl and three other children were immediately taken in by Child Protective Services.

Their parents are each being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

Starving 8-year-old girl jumps from window holding teddy, begs strangers for food

The little girl’s parents Ryan Keith Hardman and Ellio Hardman, both 33, were slapped with neglect of a child charges after their daughter escaped their home in Arnoldsburg, West Virginia ear…

nypost.com

 

[TxLady2]

Oh, my! What is wrong with people today... aside from drugs, which seems to be the problem in a lot of these cases.
Sweet little girl.,.,, Throw these parents in the dungeon, they're not fit to raise kids.

 

[tlcya]

She told store staff that her parents refused to feed her and often told her she was unwanted. She had only eaten one sandwich in the last three days, given to her by one of her siblings.

One of the store workers, who has not been named, told local media: "The little girl, she came through the store, just walked straight up to us was like, ‘I’m hungry, my mom and dad don’t want me no more, do you have anything I can eat?'
Starving girl, 8, clutched teddy as she jumped from window to find food

“Her parents told her she had an attitude and when they think she has an attitude, they tell her she’s not being good and they don’t want her.”

“This was not the first time they told her they didn’t want her,” police reportedly said in the complaint.
Starving 8-year-old leapt from 2nd story window, walked to Family Dollar because parents refused to feed her: Police

CALHOUN COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — Calhoun County parents appeared in court on Thursday after one of their children allegedly jumped out of a second-story window to find food.
Calhoun County parents appear in court after child allegedly not fed for days, jumps out window to find food

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Wow. If the allegations are true: Did they even care if she literally starved? I hope they never get any of their children back. IMO.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Bumping up in case this goes to trial in 2025.
The last information I can find are these articles from July 2023, and this was, IMO, a serious case...

 

[tlcya]

I cannot find any way to access court records to try to see where we are in this case's prosecution. Ryan old 2017 FB Ellio most recent FB

I hate it when we get no updates on the what happened next.

 

[Lilibet]

Jan. 5, 2024

Thirteen Indictments Returned by Grand Jury – Ridgeview News

ridgeviewnews.com

RYAN AND ELLIO HARDMAN​

In Case numbers 2024-F-3 and 2024-F-4, Ryan Hardman and Ellio Hardman, were indicted by the Calhoun Circuit Court Grand Jury on January 2, 2024 of Count 1, Child Neglect with Risk of Serious Bodily Injury or Death, with the indictment stating that on or about July 2023 in the County of Calhoun, State of West Virginia, they did unlawfully, feloniously, and grossly neglect OJH, a minor child, while serving as parents, guardians or custodians to the minor child, and the said gross neglect created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to the minor child OJH as defined in WV Code 61-8D-1(6) a felony in violation of WV Code 61-8D-4(c), against the peace and dignity of the State.

Count two of the indictment against Ryan and Ellio Hardman stated that on or about July 2023 in the County of Calhoun, State of West Virginia, they did intentionally and feloniously conspire to commit the crime of Child Neglect with Risk of Serious Bodily Injury or Death, a felony, with each other and that one or more of Ryan Hardman and Ellio Hardman committed some act in furtherance of said conspiracy, by committing the crime of Child Neglect with Risk of Serious Bodily Injury as alleged in Count 1 herein, said act being a felony in violation of WV Code 61-10-31and being against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.

Found upon the testimony of Corporal Brian E. Young, WVSP, duly sworn in the presence of the Grand Jury.

Brian and Ellio Hardman appeared before Judge Anita Harold Ashley on January 4th, 2024 for their first appearance. Both are incarcerated in the WV Central Regional Jail, Bonds were continued and the defendants will return for arraignment on January 31st, 2024 at at 1:55 p.m.


PLEA DEAL

July 23, 2024

Hardman’s Ask Judge for Maximum Sentencing in Afternoon Session of Court – Ridgeview News

ridgeviewnews.com

The final cases of the day was co defendants Ryan K. and Ellio Hardman. Case numbers 24F3 and 24F4 were set for pretrial, but Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hicks informed Judge Ashley that after consultation, the defendants had determined that a plea agreement was in the best interest of the children involved in this case. The couple did not want to open up the children to old wounds of what they had been through.

Ryan K. Hardman agreed to enter a guilty plea to one count of Conspiracy to Commit a felony facing a sentence of 1-5 years and up to a $10,000 fine.

Ellio Hardman agreed to enter a guilty plea to one count of Child Neglect Resulting in child endangerment or risk of death facing a sentence of 1-5 years and up to a $3,000 fine.

P.A. Hicks said that it was the State’s opinion that this is the best way to resolve this case, adding that much of the information discovered about other conduct in a companion case would be out of the State of West Virginia’s jurisdiction. The State requested that both receive the maximum sentence.

Both defense Attorneys, Belenovich and Minardi, agreed with Prosecuting Attorney Hick’s recommendation stating that the defendant’s would like to be sentenced immediately.

Judge Ashley declined stating that she would follow normal protocol of having a pre-sentence investigation before announcing a sentence.

The Defense Attorneys, on behalf of the defendants, argued that the defendants believed that this was in the best interest of getting closure if they were sentenced immediately.

Judge Ashley spoke to both defendants, inquiring if they understood the consequences of pleading to such serious charges. Both defendants responded that they understood, telling the Judge (at her request) what they were guilty of.

Mr. Hardman said that he failed to take care of his children, allowing his daughter to jump out of a second story window without his knowledge. Mrs. Hardman stated the same and that they had allowed the child to be endangered by jumping out the window, crossing a highway alone and were not aware she was gone until she was returned by the WV State Police.

The two again requested immediate sentencing of the maximum sentence allowed.

Judge Ashley followed by sentencing the maximum of 1-5 years in prison and charged both court costs.

 

[Lilibet]

the defendants had determined that a plea agreement was in the best interest of the children involved in this case. The couple did not want to open up the children to old wounds of what they had been through.

I expect that the parents didn’t want the children to reveal the full extent of the abuse at trial. I also figure that they would have been subject to a higher sentence had they been found guilty at trial. This is about protecting themselves, not their children.

P.A. Hicks said that it was the State’s opinion that this is the best way to resolve this case, adding that much of the information discovered about other conduct in a companion case would be out of the State of West Virginia’s jurisdiction.

I wonder what “companion case” this is. I couldn’t find anything.

 

[pals]

I expect that the parents didn’t want the children to reveal the full extent of the abuse at trial. I also figure that they would have been subject to a higher sentence had they been found guilty at trial. This is about protecting themselves, not their children.


I wonder what “companion case” this is. I couldn’t find anything.

try deming new mexico. both ellio and ryan fled while cps was investigating

 

[Lilibet]

try deming new mexico. both ellio and ryan fled while cps was investigating

Interesting. I couldn’t find anything, but I believe you. Do you have a link to a news article?

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