Ohio woman accused of padlocking children in apartment

NORWOOD, Ohio — An Ohio woman is accused of padlocking children in an apartment from the outside, according to court documents.

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Nicole Jones, 29, of Norwood, faces two counts of child endangerment, WKRC-TV reported.

According to Hamilton County court documents, a caseworker visited the Norwood apartment for an unannounced visit, WXIX-TV reported. The woman said she saw a padlock on the outside of the door and heard children inside the apartment, court documents state.

“I knocked on the door and noises stopped. After knocking again, the kids asked, ‘Who is it?’ and I stated, ‘Children’s Services,’” the caseworker said in a statement, in court documents obtained by WLWT-TV.

The caseworker called the police and a supervisor, WKRC reported.

Tamara Cook, who lives next door to Jones, told WXIX that she knew the children and even offered to help Jones.

“She’s got a padlock on the door, too, because the door doesn’t close,” Cook told the television station. “I know that she’s asked the landlord to fix the door and apparently, that hasn’t been done yet.”

A Hamilton County judge permitted Jones to be released from jail without posting bail, WKRC reported. She is not allowed to see her children unless Ohio Job and Family Services allows it, according to the television station.

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