Insets: Jeremiah Perkins and Jennifer Perkins (KTVX). Background: The 400 block of N. 500 West in Moab, Utah (Google Maps).
A Utah couple is facing more than a decade behind bars after they caused an elementary school-aged child under their care to “drastically” lose weight while they repeatedly locked him in a dog kennel, authorities said.
Jeremiah James Perkins, 40, and Jennifer Perkins, 48, were arrested in December on suspicion of child torture. On Tuesday, Jeremiah Perkins pleaded no contest to attempted child torture while his wife entered the same plea to aggravated child abuse, local ABC affiliate KTVX reported. Each defendant faces up to 15 years in prison when they are sentenced on Nov. 17.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit by Moab police obtained by Law&Crime, Jennifer Perkins became the boy”s legal guardian in March 2025. He was healthy until July 2025 when he “began drastically losing weight,” the affidavit stated.
He also was apparently wearing a “nonfavorable depiction of his mother printed on his T-shirts,” per cops. The boy became so frail that the Division of Children and Family Services and Moab police removed him from his home in the 400 block of N. 500 West in October 2025.
“His appearance is described as frail and skeletal-like, with his skin sunken into his person,” cops wrote.
Investigators noted he lost about 10 pounds — 13% of his body weight — in five months.
Doctors diagnosed the boy with severe malnutrition and refeeding syndrome.
His parents allegedly put him on a strict vegan diet that consisted mostly of vegetables and rice. The boy was constantly hungry and would quickly eat any snacks he was given, cops said.
The boy resorted to eating items such as Tums, DayQuil and toothpaste, cops said. But despite his deteriorating health, his parents never sought medical attention, investigators wrote.
Jennifer Perkins worked at a hospital, and she said she did not seek help because she did not want anyone to get in trouble, according to the affidavit.
In a forensic interview with investigators, the boy described even more alleged abuse. He said he was locked in a dog kennel and secured with zip ties, police wrote.
“On other occasions when he did not obey Jeremiah, he was forced to remove his clothes to only his underwear, was hog tied via metal handcuffs which were placed on his wrists and ankles and then tied together via a rope which was used by Jeremiah for easy transportation of the victim, where he was placed on a cold vent in Jeremiah’s bedroom,” the affidavit stated.
He was also allegedly gagged and forced to take a cold shower five or six times.
Both parents allegedly participated in the abuse, cops said, adding that the boy had bruises and scratches all over his body.
Another adult in the home, 29-year-old Jonathan Jarman, was also charged. He pleaded guilty to reckless aggravated child abuse and will be sentenced Nov. 17.
Prosecutors told KTVX they agreed to the plea deals so the boy would not have to testify. The defendants are barred from contacting the victim until he turns 18.
