Horrifying Abuse Case: Indiana Parents Accused of Starving and Zip-Tying Their 10-Year-Old Son

Lifestyle
Paul Johns
March 3, 2025
9 minutes read

(Photo by Muncie Police)

An Indiana couple is facing serious accusations of child neglect after their 10-year-old son was found severely malnourished and allegedly subjected to disturbing punishments, including being zip-tied and forced to stand against a wall for hours.

Melody Rose Greenwood, 38, and Adam Jon Greenwood, 36, are both facing preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent after police uncovered shocking details about the child’s living conditions. The abuse came to light when the “extremely skinny” boy was brought to Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital, where medical staff diagnosed him with “nutritional neglect” and signs of child abuse, according to Muncie Police.

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Authorities say the child was routinely fed only canned food—beans, tomatoes, and soup—while his siblings ate “normal meals such as cheeseburgers and fast food.” In addition to being starved, the boy was reportedly forced to stand against a wall for up to 12 hours a day. Sometimes, a towel was placed over his head to prevent him from watching TV, and if he spoke or stepped away, his siblings were allegedly ordered to “beat him up.”

The abuse didn’t stop there. The child also told investigators that his mother had used zip ties to restrain him, often leaving them so tight that they caused pain. He recalled one night when she tied his hands behind his back before bed and told him to leave them on overnight. Officers later confirmed that “scars and marks on his wrists” matched the child’s description of being bound.

The Indiana Department of Child Services is now investigating, and interviews with the victim’s seven siblings revealed more disturbing details. Education in the household was reportedly minimal, with two older siblings acting as the primary teachers. Their version of “homeschooling” allegedly consisted of reading three chapters of a book per day while the parents were at work.

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Following the investigation, Melody Greenwood was booked into the Delaware County Jail on three counts of neglect of a dependent and released on a $15,000 bond. Adam Greenwood was charged with two counts and released on a $10,000 bond.

The case is now in the hands of the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, which will decide whether to move forward with formal charges.