Child Locked Room Food, A Gastonia man and woman are accused of locking a 14-year-old in a bedroom and depriving the child of food and water for days, according to arrest warrants. Joy Evonne Skipper, 45, and Johnny Rufus Dickson Sr., 41, both of 317 Mountainview St., face charges of child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

Skipper and Dickson are accused of locking the child in a bedroom with the windows boarded up. They reportedly “grossly neglected” the child, failing to provide water and nutrition, according to the warrants.

The child suffered from dehydration and attempted to escape confinement to beg for good at neighboring homes, according to the warrants.

The 14-year-old was forced to urinate and defecate in a bucket-like container while being confined to the bedroom, according to the warrants.

Skipper and Dickson were charged on Saturday and booked into the Gaston County Jail.

Skipper was held under a $15,000 secured bond and Dickson was held under a $25,000 secured bond.