6-Year-Old Boy Locked In Basement, Forced To Eat Only Carrots, Found With “Orangey” Skin Tone

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PROVO, Utah – A 6-year-old boy allegedly locked in a basement by his adoptive parents and who was forced to live off of a diet consisting primarily of carrots, had an “orangey” tint to his skin when examined by doctors, according to a newly unsealed search warrant obtained by KSL.

Brett Parker Tobiasson, 31, and Clarissa Anne Tobiasson, 27, were charged on August 9^th in 4^th District Court with child abuse – a second-degree felony.  They had been arrested after a police investigation discovered that the adopted boy had been allegedly forced to live in disturbing conditions.  Police say they believe the abuse began when the child was 5.

According to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, the couple would “discipline” their son by locking him in the basement from 6:00 or 7:00 at night to 6:00 in the morning.

The room had no light or electricity, and nowhere for the child to use the bathroom.  The only thing he had was a mattress and blanket to sleep on.

The search warrant went into more detail about the diet the Tobiassons allegedly forced upon the boy:

“The child was required to eat a bowl or baggy of carrots and would not be given anything else to eat or drink until the carrots were gone. If the carrots were not eaten they would be saved for the next meal and then the next meal and sometimes the next day. One night the family had ordered pizza and the child was only allowed to have carrots, and then told once all the carrots were gone he could have pizza. Later the child was given a short time to finish the carrots and was then told he did not eat them in time therefore he could not have pizza. He was told by his father he would give him pizza in the morning, however while being locked in the room he had an accident in his pants and was told because of the accident he could no longer have the pizza,” the warrant reads.

In addition, a press release from the sheriff’s office stated, “The boy described that he would go to the bathroom while in the room and put the waste in a hole in the wall so he would not get in trouble.”

Following the Tobiassons’ arrest, a nurse examining the boy reported that the child had an “orangey” tint to his skin.  The warrant stated this was likely due to being allowed to eat only carrots for every meal.

The warrant also mentioned that there were no windows in the basement, and “the child reported he kept running into the walls while he was locked in the room because it was dark.  The child said he was scared to be in the room.  The child reported seeing a mouse and spiders in the room and mouse feces on the floor.”

The Tobiassons are scheduled to appear in court on September 14^th.

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