Man accused of locking family in trash-filled trailer

Man accused of locking family in trash-filled trailer
Story Highlights
Wife, four children left mobile home only once in three years, police say

Raymond Thurmond charged with rape, cruelty to children, false imprisonment

Mobile home was filled with piles of trash 3 to 4 feet high

Police officer: "I have never in my life smelled anything like that"



By Eliott C. McLaughlin and Mallory Simon
CNN


LAVONIA, Georgia (CNN) -- A Georgia man is accused of holding his wife and children captive in a trash-filled mobile home for three years, police said Wednesday.



Raymond Daniel Thurmond, 36, was arrested after police got a call from a woman at a local shelter August 4, Lavonia Police Lt. Missy Collins said.

"She told me they had a mother and four kids and apparently they've been kept at home and there was some abuse allegations and the dad wouldn't let them leave," Collins said.

Collins said police were told that the family had been at the shelter for five or six days.

When police got to the mobile home where the family was said to be kept, the conditions were so bad, Collins had to immediately run behind an adjacent trailer to vomit, she said. Another officer had to put on a gas mask, she said.

"You couldn't breathe," Collins said. "I have never in my life smelled anything like that."
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