Texas boy punished for wetting bed dies

DALLAS, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A Texas couple charged in their 10-year-old son's dehydration death withheld water to punish him for wetting his bed, authorities say.

Jonathan James died in late July at the Red Bird home where he was living temporarily with his father and stepmother, Michael Ray James and Tina Alberson, both 42, The Dallas Morning News reported. The couple are in the Dallas County Jail after being charged with causing serious bodily harm to a child.

The newspaper said documents obtained after the couple's arrest reveal the 10-year-old was denied drinking water for five days in July and died after collapsing and hitting his head on the floor. The boy's grandmother told the Morning News Friday he had called her in late June to say he was afraid to live with his parents during a monthlong, court-ordered custody visit. Jonathan's twin brother, Joseph, who also was staying at the home, was not injured, the newspaper said.

The grandmother, Sue Shotwell of Duncanville, said Jonathan asked if he could stay with her instead.

She said her grandson told her, "I know I'm going to be in trouble while I'm there because I always am."

"That's the first time we ever heard that from him," she said, adding Michael James could have stopped the allege abuse.

"What person in their right mind deprives anyone of water?" she asked.