Gold Hill, NV – Tammy Hinds, a Nevada mother, has been sentenced to two to five years in prison after pleading guilty to child neglect for locking her 14-year-old son in a small room for over a year. The sentence comes after authorities uncovered the severe conditions in which her son was forced to live, leading to his rescue in May 2024.
The Horrifying Conditions
Tammy Hinds, 34, was arrested alongside her mother, Nancy Hinds, after a welfare check led police to discover the horrifying conditions her son had been living in. Deputies found the teenager locked in a small room over the garage, where he was deprived of basic necessities, including access to food, water, and a bathroom.
He was forced to use a bucket for sanitation, and investigators reported a strong odor of human urine and waste when they arrived.
The boy had been confined to the room for 23 hours a day, allowed only one hour to eat and use the bathroom. He was in desperate need of medical attention when found. His sister was also taken into custody by the Department of Child and Family Services for her safety.
Legal Proceedings and Court Statements
Tammy Hinds was charged with child neglect and false imprisonment. She pleaded guilty to principal to child neglect in April, which led to her sentence. In a courtroom statement, Hinds expressed regret, saying, “I failed as a parent for both my kids.”
Her son, now 15, also testified in court via Zoom, and reportedly said, “I’m not scared of my mother anymore.” His testimony was a powerful moment in the trial, showing his emotional recovery after being freed from his mother’s care.
The Response from Nancy Hinds
Nancy Hinds, the grandmother, had a different perspective on the situation. In an interview earlier this year, she said she was “fine” with her grandson being placed in foster care, even suggesting that he “destroyed our family.” She claimed that the boy had mental issues and was “not physical”, but rather had “lots of issues.”
Child’s Recovery
Since being placed in foster care, the boy’s foster parents reported that he has made significant progress, both physically and mentally, which underscores the level of neglect he had suffered at the hands of his mother and grandmother.
Tammy Hinds’ mother, Nancy Hinds, still faces charges, and her case remains ongoing.
