By Ivy Secrest
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
LARAMIE COUNTY, Wyo. — A local fire chief and his wife have been charged with felony aggravated child abuse and conspiracy for their alleged treatment of their 13-year-old adopted son, referred to in court documents as EM.
Charges filed Friday indicate that Laramie County Fire District 1 (LCFD 1) Chief Darrick Mittlestadt and his wife, Angela Mittlestadt, purposefully deprived EM of food and socially isolated him.
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The couple turned themselves in at 4 p.m. Monday and were booked at the Laramie County jail without incident.
As of June 24, EM was taken to a Children’s Hospital in Colorado, where he stayed for several weeks to recover from severe malnourishment, according to court documents.
Dropping off EM
On June 22, Angela dropped EM off at the Youth Development Center in Douglas, according to court documents. The Douglas Police were immediately called, according to court documents.
During questioning, EM initially gave officers the wrong name and age. Officers observed he was extremely thin, wearing sweatpants that were “extremely large” due to his physical state.
“EM’s ribs, collarbones and other bones and joints were protruding and clearly visible on him due to how thin he was,” according to court documents.
EM told officers he was allowed one meal a day, consisting of bread, ham, a bag of vegetables and a Gatorade Zero, which led to severe malnourishment, according to court documents. He was also isolated from his 5-year-old half-brother, referred to as NM.
“I’m only allowed to eat one meal a day since there’s no point in giving me food anyway,” EM told officers. He used to eat two meals a day, though he couldn’t remember when that changed.
On June 23, protective custody was taken of NM and the Mittlestadts were interviewed further. During the interview, Angela became “very emotional.”
She said that when they adopted EM he had been homeless, malnourished and generally a traumatized kid.
“I’m an idiot and thought I could help him,” she told officers.
Angela claimed that EM did everything he could not to eat or sleep and typically lied, refused to go to school and lacked any feelings, remorse, empathy and didn’t care about rewards and consequences, according to court documents.
EM stopped sleeping about five years ago, about a year after the Mittlestadts got him. Two years ago, the family moved from Colorado to Cheyenne to be closer to Darrick’s job and to have a “fresh start.”
Angela had adopted the boys following the loss of a family member. Darrick told police he believed it was her way of coping with the loss, according to court documents.
Darrick claimed not to have known that EM was going to Douglas, and rarely saw EM due to work.
“I didn’t act, I failed (EM),” Darrick said in the interview.
Isolated
Court records showed that EM was often left isolated in his room. He told officers he was often locked in his room, and the door was blocked so he couldn’t leave.
When with Angela, EM was in his room 100% of the time. EM also had not been to a park or children’s museum or had a playdate since moving to Cheyenne.
“Darrick was asked if they ever had any play dates, birthday parties, or similar functions for EM,” court documents read. “Darrick admitted they hadn’t.”
EM wasn’t just isolated from other kids and outdoor activities. He was also isolated from his 5-year-old brother.
In an interview detailed in court documents, NM talked a lot about how he rarely saw his brother, that he was often sick and he wasn’t sure what EM eats besides cucumbers.
He said that EM doesn’t eat much because he “doesn’t need food.” When the interviewer tried to clarify what that meant, NM said he didn’t know, but that EM was naughty and didn’t sleep.
Detectives interviewed neighbors and found that most thought the Mittlestadts only had one boy, not two.
Detectives also interviewed firemen who work or have worked with Darrick at LCFD1, according to court documents.
Most firefighters were aware that the Mittlestadts had two adopted boys, but they only really ever saw NM, assuming that EM was closer with Angela or that the timing just didn’t work out to visit the station.
The majority of these firemen do not have a relationship with the couple outside of work.
One former colleague of Darrick’s, who had a relationship with the Mittlestadts outside of work, told detectives that whenever he had gone over to their house, EM had been in his room.
Though he was under the impression that was EM’s preference, he found it odd that the teen was always in his room “sleeping.”
The former colleague also observed the Mittlestadts checking on EM through a baby monitor, according to court documents.
From what he saw, it appeared EM was awake, working on puzzles. The couple routinely suggested that EM had behavioral issues and threw tantrums.
Recovery
When EM was brought to the hospital June 24, he weighed roughly 55 pounds. Medical staff determined he had undetectable levels of vitamin D.
As a result of his physical condition, it was determined he needed to be kept at the hospital for several weeks as his caloric intake was slowly increased and monitored.
While at the hospital, doctors observed EM was eating and gaining weight. He often discussed food, asking about recipes and asking to eat.
Doctors observed no behavioral concerns, such as the ones described by the Mittlestadts.
Pediatricians found that EM’s thinness was not due to a medical issue but was the result of malnutrition, according to court documents. Pediatricians believe EM has sustained arrested bone and joint growth and osteopenia due to malnutrition.
“EM’s severe malnutrition created a substantial and elevated risk of death,” according to court documents.
Pediatricians believe that if EM hadn’t been taken into protective custody and received medical care, the risk only would have worsened. He could suffer long-term complications, according to court documents.
Charges
Both Angela and Darrick Mittlestadt were charged with felony aggravated child abuse and conspiracy. Each charge carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
The couple turned themselves in Monday and were booked at the Laramie County jail. Initial court appearances have not yet been scheduled according to court documents.
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