GAINESVILLE, FL – A couple employed as biological scientists by the University of Florida now face criminal charges after being arrested last week on accusations of gross child abuse and neglect. The pair, Yurui Xie, 31, and Dustin Huff, 35, are said to have held their two children in makeshift cages contrived from wooden boards, as stated in a police report accessed by The National Desk.
The police officer who attended the distress call recounted the discovery of a rudimentary cage-like structure in the children’s room. Notably, the large enclosure constructed from unsanded and pressure-treated wooden beams featured stainless steel sliding latches on the exterior of its entrance.
The investigators divulged that the couple’s 6-year-old child claimed to be housed in this enclosure throughout the night until morning school hours, at which point he was allowed to leave. Allegedly, the child was reconfined in the enclosure after his return from school, during which he was left unsupervised in their home.
The scientist parents supplied an alternative narrative, stating that the enclosures were devised to prevent disruptions in their household during the nighttime hours.
The police underscored that the confinement potentially posed a significant risk to the children, depriving them of communication means during emergencies. Additionally, they flagged potential severe physical and psychological harm that could be wrought by these living conditions.
The University of Florida confirmed that both Xie and Huff held positions at the institution since 2017 and 2019, respectively, after temporary stints as graduate assistants. Given the circumstances, both have been placed on administrative leave since Monday, as informed by a university spokesperson on Thursday.
This incident follows another in October when a Florida man faced accusations of detaining a boy in a windowless 8×8 box in his garage, often leaving him in total darkness for prolonged periods.