--- description: A Texas mom was arrested after two young children were found locked in a dog cage and two others found covered in feces in a Texas barn. title: Texas Mom Arrested After Kids Found Locked in Dog Cage and Covered in Feces image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta37af7466f95a980/6989451e929fad21abbf2b2d/children-caged-texas-mother.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Texas](/tag/texas/) ## Texas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Texas Mom Arrested After Kids Found Locked in Dog Cage and Covered in Feces by [Gina Martinez](/author/gina-martinez/) ## Gina Martinez Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 13, 2019 9:32 PM CUT  This undated photo provided by the Wise County Sheriff’s Office shows Paige Isabow Harkings. On Feb. 12, 2019 authorities discovered two malnourished children crammed into a locked dog kennel and two more smeared with feces and urine in a barn in North Texas, in what a sheriff described as the worst case of child abuse he has ever seen. This undated photo provided by the Wise County Sheriff’s Office shows Paige Isabow Harkings. On Feb. 12, 2019 authorities discovered two malnourished children crammed into a locked dog kennel and two more smeared with feces and urine in a barn in North Texas, in what a sheriff described as the worst case of child abuse he has ever seen.AP by [Gina Martinez](/author/gina-martinez/) ## Gina Martinez Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 13, 2019 9:32 PM CUT Four malnourished children who were discovered inside a North Texas barn on Tuesday — some covered in urine and feces, and others crammed inside a dog cage — have been placed in foster care, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services confirmed. The children — who authorities said were between the ages of 5 and 1 — were released from the hospital on Tuesday and are now safely in foster care, Marissa Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the agency, tells TIME. Gonzalez said the children’s case will go before a judge within the next two weeks to determine next steps. According to the [Dallas Morning _News,_](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2019/02/12/2-starving-children-found-locked-filthy-dog-kennels-rural-texas-home "undefined") authorities made the disturbing discovery while investigating a family violence incident at a Wise County home. Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin told the _News_ that responding officers heard children in the nearby barn and officers found four children: a 4-year-old girl and three boys ages, 5, 3 and 1.  This aerial image provided by KDFW-FOX4 News shows part of the property where deputies found two young, malnourished children locked together in a dog cage near Rhome, Texas about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Fort Worth. A Texas sheriff says, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, deputies responding to a domestic disturbance at a home discovered two young, malnourished children locked together in a dog cage while two others also were found malnourished. AP Akin told the _News_ the two eldest children were found in a 3-by-3 foot dog cage and the two other children were discovered nearby, covered in urine and feces. Authorities arrested Paige Harkins and Andrew Fabila, both 24 years old, according to the Associated Press and other outlets. Authorities identified Harkins as the children’s mother and Fabila as father to one of the children, according to the Dallas Morning _News_. The pair each faces four counts of endangering a child and are being held in the Wise County Jail, per the Associated Press. Harkins, who also faces an aggravated assault charge, has bail set for $75,000, while Fabila has bail set for $60,000, per AP. Akin told AP this is the worst case of child abuse he’s seen in his 44-year career.  This undated photo provided by the From Wise County Sheriff’s Office shows Andrew Joseph Fabila. Deputies on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, discovered two malnourished children crammed into a locked dog cage and two more smeared with feces and urine in a barn in North Texas, in what a sheriff described as the worst case of child abuse he has ever seen. Fabila and Paige Isabow Harkings, the mother of the four children, have been jailed without bond after the children were found at their rural home. AP The barn the children were found in was fashioned to look like living quarters with food, but the refrigerator and cabinets were locked, Akin told the Dallas Morning _News._ He also told the outlet the children were taken to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth for evaluation, but did not have any apparent injuries. The family is believed to be new to town and have only been in Wise County for about a month, Akin also told the _News._ Gonzalez says DFPS had previous contact with the family, but not at the address where they were found. 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