A Wisconsin couple was arrested and is now facing severe charges after allegedly starving their six children for years, forcing them to eat truly horrifying things to survive. Casey Cano, 38, and Mary Cano, 35, are each charged with six counts of repeated physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm and child neglect. They also face one count of causing a child under 13 to view or listen to a sex act.
The allegations paint a grim picture of their home in Crawford County, Wisconsin, where prosecutors say the abuse occurred from January 2018 through April 2022, according to New York Post. The couple reportedly beat their children repeatedly with belts, leaving welts and causing bleeding. This kind of physical abuse is just awful, and it’s hard to imagine anyone doing that to their own kids.
Even worse, the parents allegedly withheld food from their children as a form of punishment. The criminal complaints describe how the children were prevented from eating for several days at a time, leading to extreme hunger. They were so desperate that they resorted to eating mold, bugs, dog food, and even grass just to get something into their stomachs. That’s just heartbreaking to hear; no child should ever have to go through something like that.
The punishment allegations here go far beyond what anyone expected
One of the children also recounted how a sibling was forced to wear a diaper for three days without changing it, all as a “punishment.” The children involved in these allegations were between the ages of 1 and 9 during the period of abuse, with some of the alleged beatings starting when they were as young as three months old. It’s truly shocking to think about such young children enduring this kind of treatment.
The charges against Mary Cano include a “party to a crime” modifier, which indicates that she did not actively stop the alleged criminal activity. This suggests she was complicit in the abuse, even if she wasn’t always the direct perpetrator. It’s a stark reminder that inaction can be just as damaging.
These allegations mirror another disturbing case in Florida, where a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue lieutenant, Joel Kohnert, and his wife Jennifer are facing serious child abuse charges after their adopted 12-year-old daughter was allegedly locked in her room for years. This isn’t the first time Casey and Mary Cano have faced serious legal trouble.
They were previously convicted in 2022 for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old. That prior conviction certainly adds another layer to the gravity of the current charges. The children were eventually removed from the home around April 2022, initially in connection with a separate sexual abuse case involving another child. A new investigation into the couple began last December, which ultimately led to their arrest in March. Both Casey and Mary Cano have since posted bond.
As of now, their next court appearance has not been scheduled.
Published: Apr 9, 2026 04:45 pm