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Iowa Couple Charged After 13-Year-Old Girl Was Found Severely Malnourished
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An Iowa couple is facing felony child-endangerment charges after a 13-year-old girl in their care was found severely malnourished and dehydrated after reportedly leaving their Sioux City home in search of food.
Brandon Myers and Emily Myers, both 45, are accused of child endangerment causing injury. The case began on August 11, 2026, when Sioux City police responded to a report involving a missing teenage girl with autism.
According to court documents cited by local news organizations, the investigation quickly shifted toward the teenager's safety after officers located her and examined the conditions inside the home.
The couple has since pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Police became concerned after the girl was reported missing
Sioux City police were called to a South Rustin Street residence at approximately 3:35 p.m. on August 11 after receiving a report that a 13-year-old girl with autism was missing.
When officers arrived, Brandon and Emily Myers reportedly identified themselves as the girl's guardians.
Authorities later located the teenager and took her to a hospital after finding that she was severely malnourished and dehydrated. Local reporting said she weighed approximately 78 pounds at the time.
According to court documents, the girl told investigators that she had climbed through a bedroom window because she was looking for food.
She reportedly returned to the property and took food from the kitchen before hiding some of it in a nearby vehicle.
Investigators reportedly found items including bananas and bagels.
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Investigators described concerning conditions inside the bedroom
Police subsequently examined the girl's bedroom as part of the investigation.
According to court documents cited in local reports, officers found a lock on the outside of the bedroom door, while the door handle had reportedly been installed in a way that made the room difficult to exit.
Investigators also reportedly found screws around the window that appeared to restrict it from being opened.
The room was reportedly significantly warmer than the rest of the house, and officers found a plastic container containing urine inside.
These observations became part of the evidence cited in the child-endangerment investigation.
Because the allegations concern a child, the reported details should be understood in context: they are allegations contained in investigative and court documents, not findings of guilt.
Couple allegedly told police the girl was confined overnight
Court documents reportedly state that Brandon and Emily Myers told investigators the girl was locked inside her bedroom at night.
Authorities allege that she did not have access to food or water during those periods.
The reports also say the teenager did not have normal access to a bathroom and instead used the container found inside the room.
Investigators reportedly learned that the couple had gone to sleep without checking on the girl again after seeing her the previous night.
These allegations form part of the prosecution's case and have not been established at trial.
The couple originally faced child-endangerment charges
Both Myers were initially arrested and charged with child endangerment causing injury.
They were held at the Woodbury County Jail without bail following their arrests, according to local reporting. A temporary no-contact order was also issued preventing the couple from contacting the teenager.
The charges were subsequently reported as Class D felony charges in Woodbury County.
Under Iowa law, the classification of a charge does not mean the accused person has been found guilty. The prosecution still has to prove the allegations through the criminal justice process.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty
The case has progressed since the initial reports.
On August 31, 2026, Brandon and Emily Myers entered not-guilty pleas to the child-endangerment allegations, according to reporting by KCAU and the Sioux City Journal.
That development is important because the couple's current legal status is different from the preliminary stage described in earlier reports.
The not-guilty pleas mean the allegations remain contested and will have to be resolved through further court proceedings.
Brandon Myers also faces a habitual-offender allegation
Reports on the August 31 court proceedings indicated that Brandon Myers' plea also addressed a habitual-offender allegation.
That allegation is separate from the underlying child-endangerment accusations and could affect potential sentencing if it were ultimately established.
At this stage, however, it should not be interpreted as proof of prior criminal conduct beyond what is established in court records.
A temporary no-contact order protects the teenager
A temporary no-contact order was issued in the case after the couple's arrests.
The order prohibits the defendants from having contact with the teenager while the legal proceedings continue. Reports also indicated that the child was removed from the couple's care following the investigation.
Such orders are intended to protect an alleged victim or witness while a case is pending and should not be interpreted as a finding that the accused are guilty.
Why the case has drawn attention
The case has attracted attention because investigators allege that the teenager's reported condition was discovered only after she left the home looking for food.
The investigation then reportedly uncovered concerns about the bedroom where she had been staying.
Cases involving alleged child neglect can require investigators to examine several issues at once, including:
- access to adequate food and water;
- medical and developmental needs;
- supervision;
- living conditions;
- physical safety;
- and the responsibilities of adults acting as guardians.
Those questions can become especially important when a child has additional care or communication needs.
What happens next?
The criminal case will continue through the Iowa court system.
Because the defendants have pleaded not guilty, prosecutors will have to establish the allegations against them through the appropriate legal process.
The court will also determine how the case proceeds, including future hearings and any motions filed by the defense or prosecution.
The reported circumstances are serious, but the charges remain allegations unless and until a court determines otherwise.
What this case shows about child-endangerment investigations
The allegations in this case demonstrate why reports involving vulnerable children can require authorities to look beyond a single incident.
The investigation reportedly began with a missing-child call. It then expanded after officers encountered the teenager's physical condition and examined her living environment.
That progression is significant because child-endangerment investigations often involve reconstructing what happened over time rather than relying on a single event.
At the same time, criminal courts must distinguish between allegations, investigative evidence and facts that have ultimately been proven.
That distinction is particularly important when reporting on cases involving children.
The case remains unresolved
The most important fact for readers to remember is that Brandon and Emily Myers have been charged, not convicted.
They have both pleaded not guilty, and the allegations will now be tested through the court process.
The teenager's reported condition and the allegations concerning her living arrangements have raised serious concerns, but those circumstances do not eliminate the defendants' right to due process.
For now, the case remains pending, with prosecutors and defense attorneys preparing for the next stages of the proceedings.
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Editor's Note
This article is based on police information, court documents and reports from local news organizations. Allegations concerning the teenager's treatment and living conditions are attributed to investigators and court documents and should not be treated as established facts. Brandon and Emily Myers have pleaded not guilty and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Because the case involves a minor, identifying details about the child have been intentionally omitted.
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