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Carmel mother accused of abuse, neglect tells police her son is "ruining their lives"

Posted at 7:02 AM, Sep 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-21 14:30:36-04

CARMEL, Ind. -- A Carmel mother accused of child abuse says her 15-year-old son is, "ruining their lives and she's had enough," according to court documents.

Brandee Johnson, 42, and Quantae Johnson, 40, were arrested last month when two of their six children were found malnourished and suffering from signs of physical abuse.

Police began investigating in August after they picked up the 15-year-old who was reported by his parents as a runaway.

PREVIOUSCarmel couple accused of abusing 2 of 6 kids

The teen told officers he runs away frequently because his father physically abuses him.

According to court documents, the teen weighed just 72 pounds. A doctor said he was malnourished and severely underweight. The boy also had bruises on his chest, ribs and spine.

The teen told police his father punishes him by having him do physical exercise for hours, hits him with a belt, punches him and even hides his clothes so he's forced to walk around their home in his underwear or his sister's clothes.

Quantae Johnson denied physically punishing his son and told police he only disciplines the 15-year-old by taking things away from him. Johnson told officers that he makes his son exercise or tries to prevent him by running away by taking his clothes away.

Brandee Johnson told police she punishes her son by taking away privileges, physical exercise and not allowing him to talk to anyone.

She also told officers that her son steals food from the kitchen and the trash, so they store food in their bedroom to keep it away from him. The Johnson's told police their son gets plenty to eat.

The 15-year-old told police his parents have cameras in their home and that his father watches to see if he or his siblings have misbehaved. The camera system was seized by police

The Johnsons are in jail charged with child neglect and obstruction of justice.

All six of their children are in the care of Department of Child Services.