Joshua Tree couple arrested after their 3 children found living in a wooden box

The Joshua Tree parents of three children, who were found to be living in a large wooden box, were arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child.
While conducting an area check in the 7000 block of Sun Fair Road in Joshua Tree, deputies found a travel-trailer on a property that appeared to be abandoned and the rectangular plywood box, according to a San Bernadino County sheriff’s news release.
The three children, ages 11, 13 and 14, reportedly lived in the large rectangular box — which was approximately 20 feet long by 4 feet high by 10 feet wide — for about four years. They didn’t have adequate food and were living in an unsuitable, unsafe environment due to the property conditions, the news release stated.
The property had neither electricity nor running water. Several large holes and mounds of trash and human feces were found on the property, and about 30-40 cats were roaming freely inside the trailer.
Children and Family Service responded to the scene and took custody of the children.
The parents of the children, Mona Kirk, 51, and Daniel Panico, 73, were arrested on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Anyone with information about the investigation can call the sheriff’s station in Morongo Basin at 760-366-4175. To remain anonymous, contact WeTip at 888-78-CRIME (27463) or go online at www.wetip.com.
Source: Oc Register