Mother Charged with Child Abuse After Allegedly Zip-Tying 5-Year-Old Son

Authorities allege that Alease Chambers subjected her 5-year-old son to horrific abuse, leaving him hospitalized.

Florissant, Missouri – A 5-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital after authorities allege that his mother, Alease Chambers, subjected him to horrific abuse, including zip-tying him and leaving him with severe injuries. Chambers made her first appearance in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Wednesday morning, facing serious charges in connection with the abuse.

According to the St. Louis County Police Department's probable cause statement, the child's abuse was reported by a friend of Chambers, who had spent the night at her home. The friend said that she witnessed Chambers subjecting her son to "brutal” punishments, such as forcing him to ball up his fists while she beat his knuckles with her phone. She also claimed that the child was made to perform wall squats as part of the punishment.

The friend further told police that Chambers had locked the boy in a closet and barricaded the door with a dresser to trap him inside. At approximately 3 a.m., the friend heard screaming and crying and found the boy alone in the basement with his hands zip-tied behind his back and his pants around his ankles. The boy was covered in bruises and marks, which the friend recorded on her phone and later provided to authorities.

Investigators learned that the other children in the home confirmed that their mother routinely beat the 5-year-old with belts, cords, and hangers, as well as making him stay in the closet. The victim was hospitalized for malnourishment and physical injuries sustained from the abuse.

Chambers admitted to police that she had left her son zip-tied for at least two to three hours and had used various items, such as belts and cords, to punish him for sneaking food. She has been charged with two counts of abuse or neglect of a child and one count of first-degree kidnapping. Chambers remains in jail with a cash-only bond set at $250,000.

Disturbing evidence reveals a mother's severe abuse towards her 5-year-old child, including physical restraints and confinement, as confirmed by other children in the household.

"Social media post reveals disturbing details of child abuse allegations, drawing attention to the plight of a four-year-old locked in a closet, as tensions escalate over reported neglect."