Missouri News

Missouri mom accused of locking girl in closet stands trial

(KANSAS CITY, Mo., AP) — A Missouri woman accused of locking her emaciated 10-year-old daughter inside a closet is standing trial this week.

Opening statements began Monday for the woman who is charged with first-degree assault, child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

The Associated Press is not naming the mother to protect the girl’s identity.

The girl weighed just 32 pounds when she was found locked inside a filthy closet in the family’s Kansas City apartment in June 2012.

She told police that her mom often locked her in the closet for days at a time. She also said she wasn’t allowed to go outside and hadn’t attended school in five years.

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This story has been corrected to show that opening statements began Monday, not jury selection.

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