KOKOMO, Ind. -- Relatives of two 4-year-old cousins who police say were abused daily in their Kokomo home are trying to gain the kids' custody following the mothers' arrests.

Police said they found the children -- a girl and a boy -- suffering from various injuries at the home Monday, prompting the arrests of the kids' mothers and two other adults who lived at the home.

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The girl's father, Aaron DeaKayne (pictured), who lives about 40 miles from Kokomo and is now trying to secure his daughter's custody, said Wednesday he had no idea she was being hurt.

"I didn't know what to think or what to do," DeaKayne said, describing his reaction to pictures of some of the kids' injuries -- pictures that aired on Indianapolis television news programs this week.

Monday's arrests came after the girl's mother, Melissa Chandler, complained to police that someone was preventing her from seeing her daughter. Officers investigating the complaint said they found the girl and the 4-year-old son of Chandler's sister in their Kokomo home, suffering injuries that included open wounds.

Police said they believe the children were frequently beaten, bound and kept in a closet. Investigators believe the girl was once kept in a closet for three weeks straight, police said.

Police said the children had been attached to items with zip ties to restrict their movement and were forced to stand in corners, sometimes overnight. Water and food also were kept from the children for long periods of time, according to police.

DeaKayne, an Anderson resident, told 6News' Jennifer Carmack he last saw his daughter in January.

"I didn't actually see any signs ... of anything. Just everything seemed a little weird," DeaKayne said.

He said he didn't see his more often because he has no job and rising fuel costs made the trip to Kokomo prohibitive. He said he regrets not seeing her more.

"I'm going to be there for her now, every step of the way, no matter what it takes," he said.

Arrested on felony neglect charges were: Chandler; her sister Jennifer Leonard, 36; Donald Hawk, 33; and Madeline Hawk, 42. Madeline Hawk also was being held on a battery charge, and Leonard and Chandler were being held on additional charges of inducing or causing battery.

The older sister of Chandler and Leonard is asking a court to give her custody of Leonard's son. She told 6News she is disgusted and appalled by the children's injuries and wants to make sure her sisters never again see the children.

The children were being treated at a hospital Wednesday. They were said to be improving, Carmack reported.