EXCLUSIVE: Woman Describes Reporting Parents Chained Children

CHARLOTTE, NC — The woman who turned in a couple accused in a horrific case of child abuse spoke only to WCCB Charlotte Tuesday.

Police say the mother and father chained their four children to beds and locked them in their rooms.

“When I heard, it break my heart,” said Gloria Connor.

The home is on Statesville Rd. in North Charlotte.

“Kids was tied up like a dog, or you know, like animal,” said Connor.

She reported to department of social services July 19.

“You have to!” said Connor.

Police say Melissa Gonzalez-Guzman and Felipe Gonzalez-Guzman chained their four children, one girl, three boys ages three to 11, and locked them in padlocked rooms.

“She let this happen,” said Connor. “Or she did it too!”

Police reports say photos on the mother’s phone showed four kids chained “…around their wrist and waist.” and a three-year-old autistic boy “…chained to a chair.”

Investigators say they found “…bruising and marks on the kids…” wrists and ankles.

“That’s horror in my mind,” said Mark Butler.

Butler says he leased the home to the family five months ago.

“I had no idea. I’ve been in the house multiple times. I never saw anything like that,” said Butler.

According to the search warrant, police seized five metal linked chains from the property. One from a tree branch, the other four inside the home in a bathroom cabinet, a bedroom and a hallway bunk bed.

“It’s disturbing,” said Connor. “Even the house is disturbing.”

A roommate in the home asked Connor to call DSS.

“I am so glad if the kids is safe,” said Connor. “That’s all I wanted. I don’t want to hear nothing else about her. She need to be where she need to be.”

Police say the children are with family now. Each parent 15 charges of false imprisonment and 15 charges of neglect child abuse, inflicting serious injury.