KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A teenager who was found handcuffed in the basement of a home he shared with his father and stepmother will stay in foster care while authorities determine whether he can live with this mother, a family court judge ruled Thursday.
Police found the 17-year-old handcuffed to a pole in the basement of the family's home in February. The teen, who weighed 103 pounds when police found him, told police he had been restrained that way for several months.
Clay County authorities charged his father and stepmother, David Martin Sr., 42, and Pamela Martin, 41, with felonious restraint and child abuse. The couple told investigators the teen was bipolar and suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and they handcuffed him to the pole after they didn't have money to buy prescription medicine for his condition. They also said the restrained him to ensure their safety.
Rebecca Auriemma, lawyer for the teen's mother, told the judge during the hearing Thursday that his mother would like him to come live with her and her family. Auriemma said the mother was unaware of what was happening to the teen and would have sought custody if she had known.
When he saw his mother in court Thursday, the teen said, "Hi, Mom," and hugged her, The Kansas City Star reported (http://bit.ly/15AeEjc).
Judge Elizabeth Davis ordered a home study to determine whether the teen could live with his mother.
The teen told the judge that he has been doing well in foster care. He said he now weighs 151 pounds and is involved in high school sports and other activities and recently got an electric guitar.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 3.