Bradley and Tammi Bleimeyer were in court Monday on charges of endangering a child. Deputy constables were originally called to the couple's home in the 21500 block of Castlemont Thursday about a disturbance, in which two males had reportedly been involved in a physical altercation.
The victim's 16-year-old stepbrother alerted deputies to the alleged abuse. He said the boy was forced to wear a diaper and live in a closet under the stairs with no food. But deputies say that victim had allegedly been removed from the home by his stepmother, identified as Tammi Bleimeyer, 33, before authorities showed up.
Deputies say they tried to find the child, but that Tammi and the boy's father, Bradley Bleimeyer, 24, were being uncooperative.
The next day, authorities used cell phone records to find the child, who they believed was in imminent danger. They tracked Tammi Bleimeyer's cell phone to a motel in Humble, where they found the child. He was in the motel with Tammi Bleimeyer, they say and that they noticed Bradley Bleimeyer leaving that motel earlier in the day.
Deputies say they noticed the boy had bumps, bruises, and was severely underweight. They say because of his appearance, they called emergency personnel and the child was transported to a Humble hospital and then later to Texas Children's Hospital.
"He's in severe state of malnutrition and even introducing food to him has to be done really slowly," Children's Protective Services spokeswoman Estella Olguin said.
Clayton Ticer, a friend of the victim's 16-year-old brother, said it wasn't the first time.
"They would take him for a drive or whatever while the cops and CPS were there so they couldn't see him or talk to him," he said.
Ticer says his friend would often seek refuge at his house away from his stepfather.
"They've always gotten in fist fights and arguments, and it's always been pretty bad between them," he said.
Both Bradley Bleimeyer and Tammi Bleimeyer were arrested at the motel. Authorities say Tammi, who has six children, is pregnant with her seventh child.
The 5-year-old victim was still in the hospital Monday in the custody of Children's Protective Services. CPS is planning to ask for temporary custody for all of Tammi's six children during an emergency hearing Tuesday.
The parents' attorney has not returned calls seeking comment.
