Mother and Father Accused of Beating, Starving and Locking Up Their 3 Children: Police By Angel Saunders

A Missouri couple has been accused of physically abusing their three children, subjecting them to “hazardous living conditions,” and withholding access to food.

In a probable cause statement obtained by PEOPLE, the St. Charles County Police Department and the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office alleged that Amberly Britton committed three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Her partner and the children’s father was identified as Mark A. Myers, KTVI, KMOV and Law & Crime reported.

The months-long investigation, which lasted from Aug. 18, 2025, until Nov. 18, 2025, began “after one of the victim children arrived at school with a significant laceration that required medical care,” according to the probable cause statement.

Police allege that Britton and Myers failed to “seek timely or appropriate treatment for the injury” and did not come into the school to discuss the alleged injury as requested.

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Following the incident, law enforcement was alerted due to concerns about the child’s welfare and the conditions of the home, according to the statement.

Upon arrival at the residence, the statement alleges that investigators “observed hazardous and unsanitary living conditions, including extreme clutter throughout the home, strong odors of urine, no bedding on mattresses, and a large amount of dirty dishes and debris covering surfaces. The kitchen cabinets and refrigerator were secured with locks that prevented the children from accessing food.” 

When questioned about the locks, Britton and Myers told authorities the devices were necessary to “control” how the children accessed the food.

“I would say this is definitely one of the [worst] cases that I have investigated. That our team has investigated. Just the level and extent of the neglect and the psychological factors that they put on these children,” said Det. Sgt. Brian Adelsberger, per KTVI.

During the investigation, authorities described the parents as appearing to be “evasive, impaired, or unresponsive.” 

Large quantities of what police believed to be methamphetamine and smoking paraphernalia were found unsecured in a bedroom and shed, police said.

The couple was allegedly given an opportunity to correct the situation, but police say that the children’s living situation did not improve.

Forensic interviews determined the children had been locked in their bedrooms, sometimes overnight, and would have to break locks on cabinets if they wanted to eat. 

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A 13-year-old living in the home said she experienced pain and vomiting from severe hunger, and was punished for throwing up, according to police.

The kids also allegedly told investigators that they were expected to wake themselves up for school and get ready because their parents would oversleep. 

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Additionally, the children said they were “struck with belts, paddles, and other objects, as well as being grabbed or dragged by the neck,” and concealed their bruises because they were told not to share what happened in their home, which had windows screwed shut, according to police.

Britton has multiple active felony warrants for possession of a controlled substance and driving while suspended, along with “prior guilty convictions for endangering the welfare of a child,” according to the probable cause statement.

Myers has prior convictions for second-degree statutory rape and failure to register as a sex offender, among other charges, KTVI reported. ​

“Mrs. Britton blamed her children and showed no remorse for the abuse and neglect they reported experiencing. Although she recently received an inheritance, there is no indication that any of those funds were used for the children,” police claimed.

Britton and Myers were charged with second-degree trafficking of drugs and three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Both are being held on $250,000 cash-only bonds, KTVI reported.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.