Court papers describe a 6-foot gate, zip-tied bathroom door and feces on walls and floors.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — A Glendale couple was arrested last week after police reported finding two young boys confined behind a tall gate in a bedroom and living amid filth inside a West Valley apartment. The discovery followed a welfare check on Jan. 29 near 67th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, according to police.
Police say the case matters now because both children are in state care while prosecutors weigh how to proceed and a judge considers bond decisions. Court records name Arthur Jackson, 41, and Sara Jackson, 36, as the adults booked on two counts of child abuse each. The boys, ages 4 and 6, were taken to a hospital for evaluation. Detectives documented feces on walls, floors and a mattress, and noted a bathroom door that had been zip-tied shut from the outside. The case has prompted renewed questions about how long the conditions existed and whether anyone had reported concerns earlier.
Officers were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. Jan. 29 when a passerby reported a naked child in an apartment window, according to a police report summarized in court filings. When an adult opened the door, officers saw a makeshift gate — described around five to six feet high — securing the bedroom where the boys stayed. An officer watched as an adult cut severed zip ties from the gate to reach the children, the report states. Inside, officers observed swarming flies and an insect infestation. They reported dried feces matted in the older boy’s hair, and smeared feces on the living room floor and the children’s mattress. “Every surface” of the bedroom, including the ceiling, was streaked with waste, a detective wrote. A bathroom connected to the bedroom had its knob zip-tied to a screw to keep it closed, investigators said.
In an interview with detectives, an adult said the boys were not potty-trained and resisted using a portable toilet in the bedroom. The adult reportedly admitted the family had “given up” trying to clean feces from the walls. Another adult told officers he worked long shifts and did not have time to scrub the apartment, while acknowledging the mess had been building since around Christmas. Investigators noted food in the refrigerator and running water but cited multiple hazards: the gated bedroom, uncovered electrical outlets and a loaded handgun magazine in a bedroom where the boys played. Authorities said one 9mm handgun was found under a pillow; the magazine was loaded and the chamber empty. A second damaged gate sat near the front door.
Police and hospital staff documented the children’s condition and transferred custody to the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Records indicate the boys had not been enrolled in school or seen a doctor, according to detectives. The arrest report states the gate was routinely kept closed. One adult told officers the gate opened when he was home; another statement described the boys as being kept in the room “24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Investigators collected cut zip ties from the bedroom floor and photographed the bathroom door hardware. The apartment’s only bedroom was used by the children, with no bedding, according to the report.
Past police calls to the complex were not immediately available Monday, and Glendale police did not release a full incident narrative beyond the probable cause summary. A department spokesperson said detectives continue to gather evidence, including additional interviews and scene photos. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will decide whether to file formal charges and what counts to pursue. Both adults were held on $25,000 bond each after initial appearances. No court dates beyond the preliminary proceedings were listed publicly as of Tuesday afternoon.
Neighbors described frequent flies and a foul odor drifting from the unit’s window when temperatures rose, though they said they did not realize children were inside. “I saw officers with gloves and masks going in and out,” said Miguel Alvarez, who lives across the breezeway. “I couldn’t believe kids were living in there.” Another resident said the apartment door was often shut and blinds drawn. A maintenance worker, who declined to be named, said he had not been called into the unit for several months and was unaware of any complaints filed with management.
The boys remained in protective custody Tuesday while case managers worked on placement. Detectives said additional charges are possible once medical evaluations and forensic downloads are complete. Police expect to submit a full case file to prosecutors by next week. A court hearing to review bond and release conditions is expected in the coming days. The apartment complex management said it is cooperating with investigators and assessing needed cleaning and repairs.
Author note: Last updated February 3, 2026.