Houston, Tx. -- A Houston-area couple was arrested in Louisiana on Tuesday after two abused children turned up at a home early that morning near their Texas neighborhood, according to authorities and a court document.
Harris County deputies responded around 5:30 a.m. ET Tuesday to a home in Cypress for a welfare check on siblings where a woman told deputies the twins knocked on her front door and "stated that they had escaped from their mother's house," according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday with the Harris County District Court.
"The twin siblings were covered with bruises, were barefoot and were partially clothed. The siblings stated that they were starving," the complaint says.
The children's mother, Zaikiya Duncan, 40, and her partner, Jova Terrell, 27, were arrested in Louisiana, according to Ted Heap, the Harris County Constable from Precinct 5. Nick Manale, a spokesperson for the Louisiana State Patrol, said the couple was taken into custody after a fugitive traffic stop.
An Amber Alert for Duncan's five other children -- ranging from 7 to 14 years old -- was canceled when they were found by the state police as was an 18-year-old male described as the children's brother, authorities said. One child was with the couple when they were detained, Manale said.
As of Friday, the twins discovered in Texas are still in the hospital, Harris County Constable Precinct 5 spokesperson Jeff McShan.
The children were "severely malnourished" and had "lacerations on their skin consistent with being restrained with handcuff restraints," according to the complaint, attested to by a Harris County Constable corporal who met with the twins.
The girl had a gray plastic grocery bag around her neck which she said she used as a shirt -- and the siblings said they were handcuffed to a dolly in the laundry room of their mother's house, the court document says.
According to the complaint, the children said that their mother "made them drink chemicals such as bleach, Lysol and would spray 'easy-off' oven cleaner in their mouths if they talked too much."
The teenagers did not remember the last time they showered, only had access to a mop bucket containing dirty water, and had to urinate and defecate on themselves, the document says.
One of the twins said Terrell has hit and punched him, the complaint adds.
The twins said the abuse began in July, according to the court document.
The couple is still awaiting their extradition to Texas.
Terrell's uncle, Alfred Terrell, was quoted on Friday, "Jova has never been involved in anything like this before and ultimately I think he didn't know about any of these allegations," adding that he had not been in touch with or contacted by either Jova Terrell or Duncan before or since the arrest.
According to the complaint, Duncan could face two charges of aggravated assault and assault on a family member with a previous conviction. Terrell could face charges of continuous violence against the family, it said.
The complaint says Duncan was previously convicted of cruelty to a juvenile, committed against a family member and member of the household, in October 2019.
Kathy Hochul had disabled New Yorkers ARRESTED after she caused them to lose their home healthcare Medicaid program. Hochul is dismantling the home healthcare CDPAP program which will cause tens of thousands of disabled and elderly New Yorkers to lose their benefits, healthcare aides, and many forced to move to assisted living facilities.
This protest is trying to stop her bill before it goes into effect April 1st.
In December 2024, a video surfaced showing former Watertown Mayor Jeffrey Smith receiving a ride home in a police patrol car after a night of holiday drinking. The incident has sparked controversy, with City Councilman Cliff Olney accusing Smith of receiving "preferential treatment" from the Watertown Police Department.
The video, which has circulated widely on social media this week, depicts Smith interacting with officers before being escorted into the patrol car. Councilman Olney contends that such actions undermine public trust and suggest a double standard in law enforcement practices.
In response, Smith has downplayed the incident, stating, "It's not a big deal, I drive on a suspended registration too!" This remark has further fueled the debate, with critics arguing that it reflects a dismissive attitude toward legal obligations and public safety.
The Watertown Police Department has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter. As discussions continue, the incident ...
Watertown City Police Department – Daily Arrest Log
Date: June 4, 2025
Gary Amos Collins, 47, of 111 N Rutland St, Watertown, NY, was arrested at 8:09 a.m. on June 3, 2025, and charged with Criminal Contempt 2nd Degree, a class A misdemeanor. Collins allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection issued by Jefferson County Family Court by entering the residence of the protected party. He was processed and held for arraignment in Watertown City Court.
Luke Allen Bohn, 35, of 896 S Massey St, Watertown, NY, was arrested at 11:32 p.m. on June 3, 2025, and charged with:
Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree
Both are class A misdemeanors. Bohn is accused of unlawfully entering and remaining at a residence on Bronson St after being repeatedly told to leave and was also found in possession of nine Clonazepam pills. He was held pending arraignment.
William Nathan Monroe III, 26, of Paterson, NJ, was arrested at 1:08 a.m. on June 4, 2025, and...
Justin David Childers (37) 355 Keyes Ave - Childers was arrested by police for two counts of Harassment in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, Resisting Arrest & Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree degree. Police report state that he did knowingly and intentionally kick an interior bedroom door causing the door to break. Police stay he also with the intent to harass annoy or alarm another person did knowingly grab the victim by her clothing while she attempted to get away from the defendant during a domestic incident. When police arrived he did knowingly unintentionally push a uniformed officer during a criminal investigation. When placed under arrest he tensed his arms and refused to provide his hands for handcuffing. While police attempted to process Mr Childers he refused to provide fingerprints or photographs for his arrest processing. He was held pending his arraignment to City Court.
Chaniece Kaya Saintival (33) 246 Central St. - ...
Andrea Ann Brozzo (40) 409 Academy St - Brozzo was arrested on the 500 block of Clay Street in the city on an executive bench warrant for Jefferson County family Court. The defendant was transported to PSB, processed, and turned over to the Jefferson County sheriff's office.
Elvin Brandon Nieves (33) 25791 NYS RT 37 Apt#109 - Nieves is charged by police with public lewdness in the first degree, endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled substance in the Seventh degree. Police report state that the defendant exposed his genitals to a female victim as well as a 3-year-old juvenile and did intentionally stroke his genitals while speaking to another victim at Holy Family Church located at 129 Winthrop Street. The defendant was also previously convicted of public lewdness on 04/03/2025. He was arrested on the above charges and transported to PSB where he was processed and released with an appearance ticket for Watertown city court with a date of 04/28/2025 at9:00 am.
