A Missouri couple has been charged after investigators alleged they physically abused their three children, kept them in hazardous living conditions and restricted their access to food.
According to a probable cause statement from the St. Charles County Police Department and the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Amberly Britton is facing three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Her partner, identified as Mark A. Myers, is the children’s father, according to reports from KTVI, KMOV and Law & Crime.
Authorities say the months-long investigation ran from Aug. 18, 2025, to Nov. 18, 2025. It began after one of the children arrived at school with a serious cut that required medical treatment. The statement alleges Britton and Myers did not seek “timely or appropriate” medical care and failed to come to the school when asked to discuss the injury.
After that incident, concerns about the child’s safety and the home environment were reported to law enforcement, prompting a welfare check.
When officers went to the residence, investigators allegedly found “hazardous and unsanitary” conditions, including extreme clutter, strong odors of urine, bare mattresses without bedding, and dirty dishes and debris covering surfaces throughout the home. The statement further claims that the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator were locked, preventing the children from freely accessing food.
When questioned about the locks, Britton and Myers allegedly told authorities they were used to “control” how the children got food.
Det. Sgt. Brian Adelsberger, speaking to KTVI, said the case ranks among the most severe his team has handled, citing the level of alleged neglect and the psychological impact on the children.
During the investigation, the parents were described as appearing “evasive, impaired, or unresponsive.” Officers also allegedly found large amounts of what they believed to be methamphetamine, along with smoking paraphernalia, unsecured in a bedroom and in a shed.
Police say the couple was given an opportunity to address the situation, but the children’s living conditions did not improve.
Forensic interviews with the children allegedly revealed that they were locked in their bedrooms, sometimes overnight, and that they occasionally had to break cabinet locks if they wanted something to eat.
A 13-year-old in the home reported experiencing pain and vomiting due to severe hunger and said she was punished for throwing up, according to police.
The children also allegedly told investigators that they were responsible for waking themselves up and getting ready for school because their parents often overslept.
Additionally, the kids reported being hit with belts, paddles and other objects, as well as being grabbed or dragged by the neck, the statement alleges. They said they hid their bruises and were instructed not to talk about what happened inside the home, which allegedly had windows screwed shut.
According to the probable cause statement, Britton has multiple active felony warrants for possession of a controlled substance and driving while suspended, as well as prior convictions for endangering the welfare of a child.
KTVI reports that Myers has prior convictions that include second-degree statutory rape and failure to register as a s** offender.
Investigators allege that Britton “blamed her children” and showed no remorse for the reported abuse and neglect. They also claim she had recently received an inheritance but found no indication that any of that money was used for the children.
Britton and Myers are now charged with second-degree drug trafficking and three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Both are being held on $250,000 cash-only bonds, according to KTVI.
