A father from Washington was arrested and charged with assault after he allegedly starved his children for at least three years. The cruel acts came after his wife passed away.
Mommy Page reported that the man, identified as 38-year-old Marc J. Litten, was also accused of psychologically abusing his two sons. He was reportedly denying his children regular meals. The specific charge against Litten was second-degree assault but his attorney, Paul Strophy, said that his client's children were underweight but that should not be a ground for assault charges.
The deputy prosecutor on the case said that Litten's 11-year-old son was 18 pounds underweight while his younger brother, a seven-year-old, was around 11 pounds underweight. The younger brother was also suffering from Type 1 diabetes. The prosecutor added, "(The children) have been subjected to systematic starvation."
The mother of the two children died in 2013 and that a detective found out that the children have developed behavioral issues after their mom passed away. The behavioral issues were reportedly disciplined by their father via food deprivation. Litten viewed it as correcting the behavioral problems. These two boys also reportedly lost all their possessions and had to earn some privileges.
It was unclear how they would earn privileges but the rights that could be earned include eating with the rest of the family and wearing regular clothes. They ate mainly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, The Olympian reported. It was not clear who are the other people living with them in their home.
The boys were also sent to bed at 6 p.m. and were monitored via a camera that was installed in their room. Litten was allowed supervised visitation but has not contact with his kids.
Meanwhile, the bail of Litten is at $10,000 by Thurston County Superior Court Judge Erik Price on Monday this week. As for Litten's children, they are currently in the care of their relatives and are gaining weight.
