An Arizona woman is accused of abusing seven adopted children in her home.
The adoptive mom of the seven kids, Machelle Hackney, is now under arrest along with her adult sons for failing to report.
Police say Hackney’s adult daughter tipped them off.
According to the report, they found one child in an unlocked closet wearing only a pull-up.
The other six kids at the house appeared malnourished.
In interviews, the kids told police they were pepper-sprayed as punishment, forced to take ice baths and stand in the corner with their arms above their head for hours.
One reported getting beaten with a hanger or belt and being pinched in his privates.
They allegedly were made to sleep in a bare room on the cold floor and would go days without food.
Police say they found evidence at the home including two cans of pepper spray and a closet in the master bedroom with a deadbolt lock.
According to reports, all of the children were forced to participate in their mom’s popular YouTube channel.
Authorities say if the children did not want to be in the video or did not remember their lines, they would be punished.
Hackney has denied any abuse, only saying the kids would be put in a corner or get grounded as punishment.
Hackney was being held at the Pinal County Jail on suspicion of two counts of molestation of a child, seven counts of child abuse and five counts of unlawful imprisonment and child neglect.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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