According to police, a Phoenix mother, identified as 33-year-old Meilin Maradiaga, allegedly resorted to chaining her son to a bed after he threatened harm to his siblings unless she provided him with money for drugs. The incident came to light when the son made a distress call to 911. Responding officers discovered Maradiaga and, upon her guidance, located her son in a separate room where he was found chained to a bunk bed by his ankle, as stated in court documents. Maradiaga handed over the key, and her son was freed while she was subsequently arrested. During questioning, Maradiaga admitted to engaging in an argument with her son over his request for money to purchase fentanyl pills, stating that he needed to repay his dealer after having already consumed drugs earlier in the day.
In an attempt to control the situation, Maradiaga sought assistance from her brother to restrain her son. Together, they bound his hands and feet. Maradiaga claimed that her intention was to chain him to the bed in order to ensure the safety of both him and the family, as stated by the police. Initially, the son agreed to this arrangement, but later expressed a desire to leave. Despite his request, Maradiaga refused to release him, resulting in a period of approximately six to seven hours during which he remained chained.
Maradiaga justified her actions by explaining that she was concerned about her son potentially overdosing, committing self-harm, or causing harm to others. As a result, she has been charged with one count of unlawful imprisonment and has been booked accordingly.
