Woman accused of subjecting her own at-risk son to abuse

RACINE (WITI) -- 51-year-old Teri Allen of Racine is accused of locking her own at-risk son in the basement of their home, forcing him to use a bucket to relieve himself, and feeding him through a hole in a wall. Allen now faces a single felony charge of "intentionally subject an individual at risk to abuse, likely to cause bodily harm."

The criminal complaint filed in the case indicates that on June 4th, Racine police officers were dispatched to the home of the accused for a welfare check on Allen's son, who suffers from ADHD, Autism/Asperger's Syndrome.

The complaint says the welfare check was requested by Teri Allen's mother. She indicated the son "had been locked in a basement at his home and shocked with a dog collar."

Officers investigating the case noted that Allen needed a set of keys to open the basement door where the son was being kept. When the officer asked why Allen needed keys, the complaint says, "she nonchalantly replied, 'because he's locked in the basement.'"

Once in the basement, the complaint indicates the officer noted there was no door knob on the basement side of the door and the windows in the basement were glass block -- so there was no way to leave in the event of an emergency.

The complaint indicates the son "was sometimes fed through a hole in the wall. When asked why, Allen told the investigators the son was fed through the hole "when she was busy and did not feel like walking around the kitchen to get to the basement door. She stated that she was 'being lazy.'"

Officials surveyed the basement where the son was kept. They noted there was a "dirty twin bed with no sheets, which had a blanket and a large mover's quilt to cover him up with, both of which were on the floor."

The complaint says the son also showed officers "a small red mark above his right eye" -- indicating that his mother's boyfriend had "punched him a week or so previously."

If convicted, Allen faces up to three-and-a-half years in prison and $10,000 in fines. She is expected to appear in court for her initial appearance on Wednesday, July 17th.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.