Trial for Shawn and Joanna Blackston locking girl in basement - 19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|News, Weather, Sports

Trial begins for parents accused of locking girl in basement

Posted: Updated:
Posted by Michel Mason - email
Joanna and Shawn Blackston Joanna and Shawn Blackston

  • Local NewsLocal News

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:09 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:09:10 GMT
    You are going to notice the increased police presence, local law enforcement are calling it a high visibility corridor enforcement plan. Local highways, for the next two weeks, will be heavily patrolled
    You are going to notice the increased police presence, local law enforcement are calling it a high visibility corridor enforcement plan. Local highways, for the next two weeks, will be heavily patrolled

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:03 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:03:23 GMT
    Tuesday and Wednesday, City of Akron attorneys will be at different Akron community centers to talk to residents about what they can do if they are on the list of people whose information was compromised
    Tuesday and Wednesday, City of Akron attorneys will be at different Akron community centers to talk to residents about what they can do if they are on the list of people whose information was compromised

  • Monday, May 20 2013 11:16 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:16:03 GMT
    All elementary and middle schools in the Brunswick City School district are closed for the rest of the week. The closure is due to norovirus outbreak. Officials sent out a phone alert Monday afternoon,
    All elementary and middle schools in the Brunswick City School district are closed for the rest of the week.

    The closure is due to norovirus outbreak.
    •   
HAMILTON, OH (FOX19) -

Trial began Tuesday for a Middletown couple who is accused of locking their 12-year-old daughter in their basement for nearly one month.

Shawn and Joanna Blackston are each charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint and child endangering. Police say they found the girl pale, dirty and malnourished after an anonymous tip brought investigators to the Blackston home in July.

Conditions were so bad at the home in the 1600 block of Philadelphia, police say the girl had not been able to brush her teeth in several months, and had limited access to a restroom.

The Blackston's six children were placed in foster care following their arrests.

The trial is expected to last up to three days.

Copyright 2012 WXIX. All rights reserved.