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Police: Couple locked up child for over 10 hours

A Lansford couple faces charges of false imprisonment, simple assault and harassment after allegedly locking up a child and their friend for over 10 hours.

Shawn Joseph Murphy, 48, and Geri Lynn Survis, 39, were arraigned Wednesday morning. Police say the two locked Survis’ child, who is a minor, and the child’s friend in a room, screwing the door shut.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Lansford Police Detective Joshua Tom:

Earlier this month, police were dispatched to a residence on the 200 block of East Ridge Street in Lansford for a cut wrist. When authorities arrived, Survis’ child said Murphy had locked them and their 18-year-old friend in the child’s bedroom, using a drill to secure the door.

The child and their friend were trapped for about 10 hours, until Survis allowed them out of the room to eat the next morning. The two were eventually locked up again and weren’t given access to a bathroom.

The child, police say, told authorities Murphy had also punched them, and Survis slapped them.

Lansford Police executed a search warrant on Feb. 10 at the residence where Murphy and Survis reportedly held the victims. Authorities found marks on the door and screws in its frame. A second warrant also led police to discovering drug paraphernalia.

Both Murphy and Survis were remanded to the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $3,000 bail.

Along with the above-mentioned charges, the couple also faces counts of endangering the welfare of children, unlawful restraint and neglect of care-dependent person. Charges related to the drug paraphernalia found are also pending.