Argentinian man 'locked wife and 32-year-old autistic son in an iron CAGE and made him eat animal feed and drink gasoline'

  • Eduardo Oviedo, 66, allegedly locked his wife, 61, and his adult son
  • Prosecutor said cage had dirt floor and was covered in bricks and rubble
  • Oviedo was arrested Friday and charged with enslavement
  • Argentinian newspaper claimed Oviedo made his son eat animal food 

By Kieran Corcoran For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 21:43 EST, 5 September 2015 | Updated: 22:35 EST, 5 September 2015

An Argentinian father allegedly locked up his adult autistic son alongside his wife in an iron cage in his house.

Eduardo Oviedo, 66, has been accused of incarcerating his son, 32, and 61-year-old wife, who is also said to have mental health issues.

According to a local prosecutor in the city of Mar del Plata, the prison cell had a dirt floor and was covered in rubble and bricks.

Iron bars: Eduardo Oviedo, 66, allegedly locked his adult autistic son inside this cage for at least two years

Iron bars: Eduardo Oviedo, 66, allegedly locked his adult autistic son inside this cage for at least two years

Arrested: Oviedo is pictured above being escorted by Argentinian policemen in the city of Mar del Plata

Arrested: Oviedo is pictured above being escorted by Argentinian policemen in the city of Mar del Plata

The two were allegedly locked inside the cage during the daytime for at least two years. The rest of the time they were said to be kept in an equally filthy room in Oviedo's home.

The Spanish-language La Nación newspaper reported that Oviedo even forced his son to eat animal food and drink fuel, which police found in the cage with him.

It reported the caging regime had been going for six years.

Oviedo, who appeared in court Saturday but declined to make a statement, has reportedly been charged with enslavement over the alleged incarceration.

Prosecutor Alejandro Pellegrini said police acted after two of Oviedo's other children told authorities about his treatment of their brother and the woman. 

'Dirt floors': Oviedo reportedly kept the two in horrific conditions, and forced the autistic man to eat animal food

'Dirt floors': Oviedo reportedly kept the two in horrific conditions, and forced the autistic man to eat animal food

Tattered: An Argentinian flag is pictured hanging outside the house. Oviedo has been charged with enslavement

Tattered: An Argentinian flag is pictured hanging outside the house. Oviedo has been charged with enslavement

Describing the sleeping area, Pellegrini said: 'The house also had a room in the worst of human conditions where the woman and son spent the hours of the night'. 

He said that room was also locked.

Other children of Oviedo's live nearby - but they are said to have been too scared of reprisals from him to come forward. 

 

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