Boy, 9, Forced To Live In Dog Kennel By Evil Parents Pictured In Cage As Baby

Images of a baby sitting in a cage show an abused child who was sent to live outside in a dog kennel.

In the "care" of his father Jonathan Starr, stepmother Sarah, and Sarah's aunt Shelley Barnes, the youngster, now nine, has experienced horrific neglect.

After being deleted from family social media postings following the birth of his half-brother, the unfortunate youngster was discovered on October 19 in Lexington, North Carolina, in the United States.

(Image: Facebook)

According to MailOnline, he had been abandoned in a cold dog kennel since April, where he was sleeping on straw without any shoes.

The family had relocated into the 1,400-square-foot home after having to leave their home in Paradise, California, which had been destroyed by wildfires in 2018. He had been banned from the home.

He was kept outside, while the elders and his four siblings remained inside.

(Image: Facebook)

Jonathan, 32, Sarah, 40, and Shelley, 56, have all been arrested on suspicion of abusing children.

The youngster, who will not be named, and his siblings are currently in the custody of social services. His siblings are between the ages of eight months and seven years.

Sarah and Jonathan got married in 2017; she already had two kids of her own—both of whom are younger than the exiled boy—from a previous relationship.

(Image: Facebook)

Within a year of having their first child together, Jonathan and Sarah were forced to leave their home after it was destroyed by wildfires.

Shelley has amassed 34 arrests and has been convicted of crimes in the past.

Confederate flags were discovered everywhere in her house, and photographs from earlier parties revealed several attendees wearing KKK uniforms.

(Image: Facebook)

The small boy ceased being featured in Sarah's social media pages when his fifth sister was born in February of this year.

Photos of just four kids led people to wonder where the fifth child was.

He had previously been prominently shown in family photos but then simply disappeared.

(Image: Facebook)

Finally, police were summoned after a neighbor saw him locked up.

Sheriff Richie Simmons of Davidson County, North Carolina, told reporters: "I've been in law enforcement for 36 years. To be quite honest with you, this is the first time I have witnessed something of this scale.”

“There were some clothes that were there, just bits and pieces, a little bit of food was inside, but not enough to sustain warmth for this child."

Police discovered the boy in the freezing cold.

“There were some clothes but not enough to sustain warmth for this child,” said the sheriff.

Police reported that despite being in foster care as well, the other four kids were found to be healthy and well-cared for.

All three suspects are still being held. In custody on $100,000 (£84,463) bonds, each are Jonathan and Sarah who are accused of many child abuse offenses.

A bond of $300,000 (£253,390) is being held for Barnes.