(Image source from: Google Sites)

Two western Maryland parents have been sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment for keeping their youngest children locked in a cage-like room covered in feces.

According to media reports, parents, Paul and Melissa Trapani of Westminster received the maximum possible penalty at Thursday's sentencing hearing.

The six children ranged in age from 5 to 12 when they were found in distressing conditions in the family's home in 2014. In a room with a door that resembled a cage, two youngest children were bolted. The 5-year-old male child was seen wearing only a diaper, while the 7-year-old girl was bare and was covered in flea bites and feces. The girl was delineated as displaying animal-like conduct.

The authorities commenced investigation after one of the older children found drawing a picture of his home at school.

By Sowmya Sangam