A woman was arrested after she tortured her husband’s son because he was not her biological child.
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania, said that the 4-year-old boy’s father knew about the shocking abuse and he did not stop his wife.
Danielle Miller, 31, is accused of “playing mermaid,” with the child. During the game, she used tape to tie the boy’s leg together.
She then forced the boy to consume laxatives and hot sauce, but she did not allow him to drink water for hours, leaving his mouth burning, authorities said.
The women also forced the boy to sit on the toilet for many hours. Other times, she locked him in a closet for long periods of time, according to Lancaster County Prosecutor’s Office.
Miller also verbally abused the boy, calling him a “pig” and told him that he was “stupid and he has an ugly face”, authorities said.
The prosecutor said that the Miller, did not abuse any of her three biological children.
The victim, who is now staying with relatives, suffered cuts, bruises and burns during the four months of abuse.
The child’s father, Nathan Duke, 30, was also arrested on charges of endangering, conspiracy to conceal the abuse and not reporting the abuse to authorities.
Police believe that Miller resented and abused the child because he was Duke’s son from another woman.