Michigan Doctor and Wife Accused of Locking 10-Year-Old in Closet for Months
An Upper Peninsula doctor and his wife are facing child abuse charges after allegedly forcing their 10-year-old son with special needs to sleep in a locked closet for months, authorities said.
Dr. Colin Irish, 57, and Carrie Irish, 49, of Marquette Township were arrested and charged with second-degree child abuse this week. Law enforcement officials allege the couple locked their son inside a modified closet for hours a day, deprived him of bedding, and forced him to clean up his own waste.
The alleged abuse came to light after a school reported concerns to Child Protective Services, which then contacted the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Greg Zyburt confirmed that all three minor children in the home were removed the same day, and the 10-year-old was taken to a hospital to be checked for possible frostbite before being placed with a foster family.
Investigators say the closet had been modified with plastic sheet panels and linoleum flooring and was locked from the outside. There were no heating vents or windows, and the child was allegedly forced to sleep on the floor in only underwear, with no mattress, pillow, or blanket.
“The child defecated and urinated in the closet multiple times and then was forced to clean it up,” said Detective Lt. Jason Hart, noting that a strong odor of cleaning solution was present when authorities inspected the area.
Authorities did not disclose details about the child’s specific special needs or the ages of the other two children but confirmed they were minors and male. Officials do not believe the other children were subjected to similar treatment.
Colin and Carrie Irish were arrested and arraigned Tuesday, each facing a charge of second-degree child abuse. They posted bond and are scheduled for a probable cause hearing next week. As part of their release, they are prohibited from contacting their three children.
Attempts to reach the couple for comment were unsuccessful. When contacted, their attorney’s office declined to comment.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, with the possibility of additional charges.
“No stone will remain unturned,” Hart said, calling it a “quite alarming” case.
Sheriff Zyburt noted that child abuse cases are always tragic but said this case stood out due to the defendants’ backgrounds.
“A doctor takes an oath to help people,” he said.
Dr. Colin Irish, an osteopathic doctor, had previously run a family medicine practice in Marquette. While his website appeared to be down, archived images reportedly showed him and his wife smiling with children, including a picture of them in a kiddie pool and another of him with a child in kitchen aprons.
If convicted, the couple could face up to 10 years in prison.
This case follows multiple child abuse cases in Michigan, including a Pontiac mother charged with first-degree child abuse for allegedly abandoning her three children to live in squalor for four years.
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