A heartbreaking and shocking story has emerged from Minnesota, where a mother and father are heading to prison for locking their children in makeshift cages at night. Benjamin Cotton, 42, and Christina Cotton, 40, pleaded guilty to child torture, according to court records. In exchange for their guilty plea, prosecutors dropped 15 additional charges, including neglect and malicious punishment of a child.
The case began in August 2022 when the Goodhue County Health and Human Services received a tip about the welfare of the couple’s four children, ages 9, 7, 5, and 2. Christina Cotton, who reportedly struggled with mental health issues, was behaving erratically, and there were allegations that at least one child had been locked in a cage.
The day after the report, a social worker and investigator from the Red Wing Police Department visited the Cotton family home in Red Wing, Minnesota. Christina invited them inside and told them the three younger kids were in their bedrooms while the oldest was downstairs. However, when asked if any of the children were locked up, she became upset and claimed the kids were “secured” for their own safety.
Inside the home, investigators found horrifying conditions. A 2-year-old child was locked in a playpen with a dog cage strapped on top, making it impossible for the toddler to get out. The child was wearing a soiled diaper duct-taped around their waist. Nearby, a bunk bed, converted into a cage with wooden planks and a sliding metal lock, held the 7- and 5-year-olds. The children were crammed inside with a mattress, blankets, and a “puke bowl.” Police noted the small space didn’t even allow the children to stand up.
The mother admitted to locking the kids up the night before at 8:30 p.m., meaning they had been confined for about 13 hours. The oldest child, a 9-year-old girl, was found downstairs and not caged, but she had severe bruises on her back and buttocks.
The 7-year-old told police that his hands had been duct-taped behind his back as punishment. He explained that he was required to do daily chores like cleaning rugs and picking up toys. If he failed, he said his father would beat him with a belt and his mother would hit him “really, really hard.” Doctors confirmed that the bruises found on all the children were consistent with being hit with an object, such as a belt.
When confronted, Christina defended her actions, claiming the cages were necessary to keep her children safe. She described incidents where one child had escaped and grabbed a knife, and another time when the kids got into household chemicals. She insisted that locking them up was the only way to prevent them from getting hurt or dying, even blaming authorities for not understanding her situation.
The 9-year-old girl told investigators that she was scared to speak out because her parents warned her not to share family problems. Her parents told her that troublemakers end up in jail as adults, living in cages and eating very little food.
Further investigations revealed that the children had been locked in cages at night for at least four years. A licensed psychologist determined the children had endured severe abuse and were likely to face long-term developmental issues. Goodhue County Health and Human Services has since taken custody of the children, providing them a chance at a safer and healthier future.
For their actions, Benjamin and Christina Cotton have been sentenced to four years in prison. The story has left the community of Red Wing, Minnesota, and beyond in shock, highlighting the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.
