The Bell County Sheriff’s Office said that a couple has been arrested after making their 14-year-old adoptive son live in a un-insulated shack with no air conditioning or water outside of Belton in January.
Deputies said that 62-year-old Warner Stadler and his wife, 58- year old Suzanne Stadler, were arrested and charged with child endangerment and criminal negligence on Friday. Suzanne Stadler was a special education teacher for Temple ISD and retired on June 1, 2017.
According to the sheriff's office, the 14-year-old was given "minimal food and supervision."
Deputies learned about the situation after the boy made an outcry to his grandmother.
The grandmother said that the child was in her home and refusing to leave because he was scared. After seeing his living conditions, the grandmother contacted police.
Deputies said that they discovered during the investigation that the son endured years of physical abuse from the adoptive parents. The also discovered that the teen had been hospitalized for a mental illness in the past, and he did not receive appropriate supervision.
The affidavit said that the only running water the boy had was a water hose. The affidavit also said the adoptive parents took him off his medication.
Warren Stadler is retired military. They adopted the teen 8 years ago.
They have bonded out of jail.
The affidavits can be found below:
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