Malnourished girl locked in room, denied access to bathroom

A 10-year-old Portales girl was forced to eat meals quickly, by herself, then locked in her room at night “to prevent her from getting up and eating food.” The girl was also forced to wear pull-up diapers, denied bathroom access and had her head shaved as punishment for cutting her own hair.

The details of child neglect charges against Mern and Athena Shepherd are contained in the report released Wednesday. Both were in Roosevelt County jail in lieu of $5,000 bond each.



The Shepherds were arrested Sept. 24 — six days after teachers at the girl’s elementary school contacted police because the girl appeared malnourished.

In interviews, Athena Shepherd downplayed the accusations, saying they were isolated incidents. However, Mern Shepherd told officers his wife treats the 10-year-old “very rough.”



According to Sgt. Brack Rains, who interviewed the child on Sept. 23, she “disclosed that she was given two to five minutes to eat and was timed using the timer on the kitchen stove.

“At the conclusion of the time,” Rains noted, “she had to stop eating and throw any remaining food in the trash. The child stated she was required to sit in the kitchen while the remaining family members ate in a different room.” The Shepherds, both 33, are charged with child neglect, a third-degree felony.