Charged: Brookfield couple accused of locking teenage daughter in basement, forcing her to wear diaper

WAUKESHA COUNTY (WITI) -- FOX6 News is learning more about a Brookfield couple accused of locking their teenage daughter in the basement -- forcing her to wear a diaper. The couple is now facing child neglect charges. Records show the girl came to school covered in feces, and prosecutors say her mother and step-father are to blame.

It was an anonymous call to Brookfield police that finally got the attention of officials in Waukesha County. The caller told police a teenage girl was being kept in the basement of a Brookfield home -- being "treated like an animal."

Now, the 13-year-old girl's mother and step-father are facing child neglect charges after the teen continually showed up at school covered in dry feces.

According to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday, March 25th in Waukesha County, the girl's parents called her "Stink" and refused to let her use the family bathroom or sit on furniture because her step-father thought she was disgusting.

Every day after school, prosecutors say, the girl, who has low-level autism and cognitive disabilities was forced into her basement bedroom and dressed in an adult onesie and a pull-up diaper.

The next morning, she would ride the bus to school covered in dry feces.

Teachers and counselors at Wisconsin Hills Middle School reported the alleged neglect to the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services back in December. According to police, Lutheran Social Services had been working with the family and knew about the girl's living conditions a year ago.

When police visited the home in early march, the temperature in the girl's bedroom was around 50 degrees.

The social worker who had been working with the family told police the anonymous caller was right. The teenage girl was being treated like an animal.

The couple's first court appearance is scheduled for next week.