A West Virginia couple have been arrested after one of their starving children jumped from a second-floor bedroom window to find food.
Ellio, 33, and Ryan Hardman were arrested after their eight-year-old daughter was found barefoot and holding her teddy bear at a nearby Family Dollar.
The child told employees and law enforcement on July 7 at about 10:30pm that the only thing she had eaten was a sandwich made by one of her three siblings.
As they starved, Calhoun County Police said that when they arrived at the child’s home it was fully stocked with food.
Ellio and Ryan Hardman, 33, were arrested after their eight-year-old daughter was found barefoot and holding her teddy bear at a nearby Family Dollar
The child told employees of the Family Dollar and law enforcement on July 7 at about 10:30pm that the only thing she had eaten was a sandwich made by one of her three siblings
The suspect’s mother pictured on her Facebook page
Family Dollar employee, Sandra Knicley, told WOWKTV that she was immediately concerned when she saw the young girl walking alone.
‘It was sad and really concerning and we wasn’t about to let her leave and go anywhere else,’ said Knicley.
‘So, we just took her to the back and took care of her until the cops got here.’
Another employee, Kelly Hutchinson, told the outlet that the girl ‘just walked up to us.’
‘She said, ‘I’m hungry. My mom and dad don’t want me no more. Do you have anything I can eat?’ Hutchinson claimed.
Responding officers spoke to the Hardman’s and asked if they knew where their daughter was.
In the criminal complaint, her father said he’d believed she was upstairs with one of her siblings, however, she is known to leave home.
When officers asked the famished eight-year-old why she’d jumped out of the window with several hazards underneath, she claimed ‘she wasn’t allowed downstairs.’
Court records revealed that she would be punished by having to lay in her room for days without food.
One sibling corroborated the despicable punishment tactic and said it could sometime last up to a week.
During a search of the home officers said they found ‘food in the cupboards, food pantry, refrigerator and freezer for the entire family – none of which appeared to be expired. They also said they found drug paraphernalia.
Court records revealed that she would be punished by having to lay in her room for days without food
The Hardman’s have been charged with child neglect and held in the Central Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond
‘Me having kids of my own, it just broke my heart her saying she was hungry and haven’t ate,’ Knicley said.
‘No little girl should ever feel like she’s not wanted. No kid for that matter.’
The girl and three other children were removed from the home, but it remains unclear where they were sent to stay.
Not a lot is known about the Hardman’s however on their social media accounts Ryan appears to be a doting father.
Multiple pictures of him taking selfies with his kids, appearing doting, are posted on his Facebook as well as a picture of him wearing a U.S. Air Force uniform. In other pictures, he makes references to being an aspiring professional wrestler.
It is unclear whether Ryan has ever been or continues to serve in the Air Force.
Evidence of a relationship exists on Ryan’s page, with his relationship status set to ‘in a relationship’ the same cannot be said of Ellio who appears ‘single.’
Ellio’s Facebook has less evidence of children but a post from last year shows the parent beaming with the caption: ‘I do not care what you think of me.’
The Hardman’s have been charged with child neglect and held in the Central Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Family Dollar and Calhoun County Sheriff’s department but they did not immediately respond.
