Cops: Parents keep daughter outside for 8 years

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Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer

The parents of a teenage girl have been accused of forcing her to sleep outside their Miami home for years, authorities said.

Sherrine and Philip Mathieu, who were arrested last week, have been charged with 863 counts of felony child neglect, the Miami Police said in a statement.

"Using their blue Pontiac Grand Am as a bed, this family of three spent their nights sleeping within feet of their duplex apartment which had electricity, hot and cold running water and all of the comforts of home.," the statement said.

According to the arrest report, the suspects' daughter, 16, told investigators the family was living in these conditions for approximately 8 years.

Members of the Special Victims Unit division for the police continue to investigate the allegations and have found "loads of evidence that is consistent with the victim's story," authorities said.

The girl's father said he and his daughter were living in these conditions since 2007 because his wife would not let them into the home because it needed to be cleaned.

Bail for the Mathieus was set at $400,000 each.