A fire chief and his wife in Wyoming are facing disturbing accusations after authorities say they starved and abused their 13-year-old adopted son, leaving him so emaciated that he weighed just 55 pounds when discovered.
Darrick Mittlestadt, chief of Laramie County Fire District No. 1, and his wife, Angela Mittlestadt, have been charged with aggravated child abuse and conspiracy to commit child abuse, according to the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office.
The couple turned themselves in on Monday, July 29, after a months-long investigation into the teen’s condition. Public Information Officer Brandon Warner confirmed the boy had been living with the Mittlestadts for six years and had suffered long-term neglect.
“He’s a f—ed up kid with trauma,” Angela reportedly told investigators. “I’m an idiot and thought I could help him.”
An arrest affidavit obtained by Cowboy State Daily reveals chilling details of the alleged abuse. The teen told investigators he was routinely denied food and given crackers or protein shakes only as a “reward.” He said his bedroom door had been blockaded for nearly two years, restricting his movement and isolating him from the rest of the home.
“I’m only allowed to eat one meal a day since there’s no point in giving me food,” the boy allegedly told officers.
When police encountered him, they described the child as “wafer thin,” with visible ribs, collarbones, and other protruding bones. Much of the hair on his head was missing, and doctors later confirmed arrested bone growth and joint development — signs of long-term, chronic malnourishment.
Angela reportedly told police that Darrick worked frequently and that she felt overwhelmed caring for the teen and a younger child also in the home. Darrick, in his interviews with authorities, took responsibility, allegedly saying, “I failed everyone, because I didn’t do my job.”
The situation came to light in June after Angela dropped the boy off at a Youth Development Center in Douglas and told him to say he “needed somewhere to live.” When asked why he thought she abandoned him, the teen blamed himself, citing bedwetting and other behavioral struggles.
The boy, originally from Colorado, was admitted to Colorado Children’s Hospital on June 24, where doctors confirmed he was severely malnourished and suffering from long-term effects of abuse.
As of now, Laramie County Fire District No. 1 has not commented on the charges against their chief. The investigation is ongoing.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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