The 12-year-old boy who was missing for days before he was found had been abused by his father, according to a court petition filed by the state's Department of Human Services.
Charlie Bothuell V, of Detroit, made headlines at the end of June when he was found hiding in his father's basement after an 11-day search. Police immediately launched an investigation into how Charlie ended up in the townhouse's basement, which was searched multiple times before.
Since then Charlie has revealed to authorities that his father, Charlie Bothuell IV, made him do grueling workouts twice daily- including 100 pushups, 100 jumping jacks and 25-pound weight lifts- all in less than an hour, according to the petition obtained by the Detroit Free Press.
The petition, filed this week in Wayne County juvenile court, seeks to terminate the father's parental rights. The agency also wants to terminate the parental rights of Charlie's stepmother, Monique Dillard-Bothuell, who is accused of forcing the boy to hide in the basement when he went missing June 14, according to the Associated Press.
If the petition is granted, Charlie will be placed in the custody of his mother, who he is now staying with.
Charlie revealed the maltreatment during a July 1 interview with FBI and Children's Protective Services. The boy said he was abused "for the entire two years he has resided" with his father, the Detroit Free Press reported.
His father beat him with a plastic pipe to the point where "the skin on his buttocks split open in several areas," the petition reads.
If he failed to complete his workouts, Charlie said he was forced to do it over. According to the petition, Dillard-Bothuell put Charlie in the basement the night of June 14 as punishment for lying about finishing his workout.
He remained in the basement, sometimes sneaking upstairs for food, until he was found on June 25.
Charlie's father and stepmother both deny the abuse. No charges have been brought against either parent.
