Parents admit child neglect after their son, 7, was found wandering streets trying to sell his cuddly toy for food
A speeding fine isn't the only thing you need to worry about if you drive over the limit. Drivers that travel at faster speeds on motorways could incur thousands in additional costs
PARENTS of a seven-year-old boy have admitted 10 counts of child endangerment after a police officer discovered their son trying to sell his toy for food.
The boy was found by Officer Steve Dunham - who was horrified when the child claimed he had not eaten for several days, and bought him a sandwich from a nearby Subway.
Speaking shortly after the incident in August, kindhearted Officer Dunham told WLWT: "He told me he was trying to sell his stuffed animal to get money for food because he hadn't eaten in several days.
“It broke my heart.”
His parents, Michael and Tammi Bethel, from Ohio, USA, have since pleaded guilty in court - and could be locked up for as long as six months when sentenced on September 27.
Officers also reportedly discovered four older boys living among garbage, bottles of alcohol and cat urine at the family home, and placed them in the care of relatives.
Tammi Bethel's lawyer, David Chicarelli, said his client accepted responsibility and plans to regain custody of her children.
Related Stories
And now, the mum-of-five has set up a GoFundMe page in an attempt to raise $25,000 to buy a new house.
Writing on Facebook, she explained: "Because of all the media coverage no one will rent to me so I am trying to buy a home for $25,000 here in Franklin so the kids will not have to switch schools.
"Please help anyway possible if you can. It will be greatly appreciated and I would love to surprise the kids with the new home that is ours."
She also posted an advert for a new cleaner, claiming she was denied help from the state despite "suffering from Parkinson's and sinus tachycardia". Meanwhile, in another post, she uploaded a photograph of her child's toy, writing: "I'm going to BBQ this stupid dog ASAP!!!"
Her lawyer told WLWT: "You can't explain away the photos and that's not what she was trying to do, but I think this is going to be a really big time in her life that she's going to be able to move forward, and I think this was the catalyst that she needed."