FARMINGTON -- Two foster parents were arrested in connection with endangering the welfare of one of their foster children, a 7-year-old boy, according to a police report.
Brien Reed Hall, 40, and Veronica Hall, 39, of 12014 Delaney Court in Farmington, were arrested about 5 p.m. Tuesday in connection with first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a felony. The couple hadn't been booked into the Washington County Detention Center as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the jail website.
Detective Justin Collins said the Halls had seven children in their home between ages 4 and 15. The children in the home were four biological or adopted children and two foster children, Collins said. He said he couldn't give information on the foster children.
All seven children have been placed with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, according to the police report.
Collins described the case as "egregious in nature."
Collins received an open investigation Aug. 22 from Human Services and the Arkansas State Police about a boy removed that day from his foster home for his safety, according to the report. The Halls were in the process of adopting the boy, and an adoption specialist became concerned after observing the child in unhealthy conditions, Collins said.
"The juvenile was described as a 'kid that would be from a Third World country,'" the report said. The advocate reported the boy was asking for food every 10-15 minutes, had low weight and was lethargic. He also was observed rummaging through garbage cans looking for additional food, the report said.
The 7-year-old weighed 35.3 pounds and stood 44.1 inches, the report said.
The child was taken to Arkansas Children's Northwest for evaluation and was diagnosed as malnourished with the exact reasoning to be determined, the report said. During a separate incident Monday, the child was taken to the hospital for respiratory issues and complaints of abdominal pain.
The police report said photographs of the boy show a very frail, lean child, with rib bones, hip bones and shoulder blades all easily visible under the skin. The photographs also show the child has "visible abdominal bloating."
Collins said the investigation revealed the boy hadn't been seen by a primary care physician since September. The Halls had no documentation to show they sought medical advice or help for the boy's low weight. The investigation also showed the Halls canceled three doctor's appointments over the summer for the boy. He had been in the Halls' house since March 2018 and had lost 9 pounds during that time, according to the report.
Brien and Veronica Hall were interviewed at the Farmington Police Department.
Brien Hall said he was a truck driver who traveled and worked long hours, according to the report. Hall told police his wife was a stay-at-home mom and cared for the children.
Hall told police he and his wife talked about seeking medical advice for the child, but didn't. He said he was unaware of the boy's health conditions, the report said.
Veronica Hall attributed the boy's low weight to food allergies and said the child used manipulation to get more food, the report said.
The report said no one involved, the Halls nor Human Services workers, could explain why no one sought medical attention for the boy's low weight.
NW News on 08/29/2019