Five children found 'locked in dungeon with cameras to stop them escaping'

Parents of five kids who were locked in a "dungeon" bristling with surveillance cameras and locks have been arrested.

The home of James Russell, 65, and Carly Kahl's, 41, in Redstone Township, Pennsylvania was raided after police received complaints of children living in "deplorable conditions". Pennsylvania State Troopers arrived to find the kids - who were aged between five and 14 years old - were confined to a feces-covered room that had its windows boarded up.

It was also covered in fleas, with just a little food to sustain the youngstersand had no beds for them to sleep on. Trooper Ally Wilson said: "It's sickening - that's the only word that I can use to describe what we saw and what those children went through."

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The father of the children is accused of locking them inside during the night and for part of the day. The complaint adds: "This room functioned as a dungeon, with video cameras hardwired to the father's room."

There was no door handle which the children could use to escape their confinement, police said. After his arrest, James said he would "not be removing the locks from the bedroom door for any reason", according to WPXI.

The kids are now in the care of Children and Youth Services after being safely removed from the home. Officials have since spoken to the children, who said their dad would spend the whole day smoking cannabis, neglected them, and made Carly use a taser on one of the children.

After conducting a search of the property, Pennsylvania State Troopers found a stun gun, replica pistol and drugs. "Well it appears that these children were basically held in captivity in this room," Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele told a press conference.

"We have evidence that there were some cameras that were hardwired to another room where these children were being observed," he added. "And again, there's no reason to be using a device like a stun gun, which is less lethal, not lethal, against a child."

Pennsylvania's District Attorney revealed that authorities were informed of the horrific situation after a "brave family member" reported it to ChildLine. "Law enforcement cannot be in every household and every single minute of every day; we need people to come forward and think of these children."

The couple has been charged with endangering children, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, drug charges and use of an incapacitation device.

Both parents have been denied bail, reports the Daily Mail.