*A Houston man has been arrested for allegedly confining his wife in a bedroom of their $1.1 million mansion for five years.
According to The Daily Mail, James Earl Johnson, 46, faces charges of injury to a disabled individual and abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, according to Harris County court records.
Investigators say the victim, also 46 and disabled, had little access to food and no phone during the alleged captivity. Court documents claim Johnson provided her only one egg a day along with a small dinner. On Friday, she reportedly managed to call 911 after Johnson accidentally left his phone on a nightstand. Authorities allege he slapped her, and carried her back to bed before hanging up on the
dispatcher.
The victim had reportedly tried to contact police before. Officers responded to the home on November 16 of last year but did not file a report. She claimed that she and her children were told to not speak to authorities.
Scroll to continue reading
“People might think it’s easy to just leave, but if you’re suffering from some sort of disability, the chances are greater that you can’t leave,” said trauma therapist Chau Nguyen, per ABC 13.
“Over time, there’s fear, there’s dependence. Sometimes there’s even a trauma bond between the victim and the abuser,” said Nguyen.
Johnson was released on a $50,000 bond and ordered to stay away from both the victim and the family home. He is currently staying with a nephew and is scheduled to appear in court on March 18. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
The victim remains hospitalized, according to her adult son, who did not provide further details about her disability. Neighbors reportedly had no knowledge of her alleged captivity in the home, highlighting the case’s shocking nature.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Mother of Three Hospitalized After Dog Attack in Mississippi
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE
