Florida Father Accused of Starving His Children and Locking Them in Bedrooms for Days, Forcing Them to Use a Bucket as a Toilet

A Florida father has been arrested after authorities alleged that he kept his two young children confined to their bedrooms for days at a time, deprived them of food, and forced them to use a bucket as a toilet. According to investigators, the children were also reportedly allowed to drink water only from the shower, revealing a deeply troubling situation that came to light after they reached out to relatives for help.

Wendy Louis, 40, was taken into custody on October 13, 2026, after deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in northeast Miami-Dade to conduct a welfare check. The visit followed reports that the children had told family members they were going without food for days and were being kept inside their rooms without access to a proper bathroom.

According to the arrest affidavit cited by Law&Crime, both children described similar conditions when deputies spoke with them. They allegedly said their father sometimes refused to feed them because he believed the government was putting “stuff” in their food. Investigators said the children reported being confined for extended periods and having to use a bucket because they were not permitted to leave their rooms to use the restroom.

The allegations became even more concerning when deputies described the children’s physical appearance. According to the report, both appeared extremely small and thin for their ages, with hair that was unkempt and matted. Their accounts suggested that basic needs, including regular meals, personal hygiene, and access to appropriate living conditions, had allegedly been neglected for a prolonged period.

Investigators also learned that the children had reportedly not attended school since being withdrawn from classes and were not receiving homeschooling instruction. Authorities alleged that Louis failed to provide the care and supervision necessary to protect the children’s physical and mental well-being. The report did not specify the children’s ages.

Louis reportedly declined to be interviewed by investigators. He was arrested later that day and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He was charged with two counts of felony child neglect without great bodily harm. Authorities also noted an active bench warrant related to separate allegations of domestic violence battery and resisting an officer without violence.

The case has raised serious concerns about how the children allegedly lived and how their circumstances remained hidden until relatives contacted authorities. For now, the allegations are being addressed through the criminal justice system, and further proceedings will determine the outcome of the case. Louis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: Law&Crime