Charges Filed Related to Allegedly Locking a Child in Makeshift Jail-Style Cells

Today, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced felony aggravated child abuse charges filed against Melissa Gray and Travis Peterson for allegedly locking their 13-year-old son in multiple makeshift jail-style cells consistently for over a year.

On August 18, 2024, Unified Police Department responded to the home of the defendants to conduct a child abuse investigation when they observed the 13-year-old boy in a pantry in the hallway with a metal and wood gate in front of it with a lock on it. Ms. Gray, the victim’s stepmother, told police he had been there for the “past 24 hours.” When investigators interviewed the victim, he yelled at the interviewer and told them he was not going to get dinner. During the interview, the boy said that before the hallway cell was built, he slept in a cell in his bedroom with five locks on it, which had been constructed approximately a year and a half prior. The victim said he thought it was a joke the first time he was put in the cell, but realized his parents were serious when they only gave him three bathroom breaks, breakfast, and dinner. The boy also told investigators at first that he had to write things down on paper to “make requests,” but he eventually stopped receiving the paper. The child said he “felt sad” and “lonely” when he was in the cell and was only visited by their puppy. The defendants told police they had pulled the victim out of school and Ms. Gray homeschooled him.

Both defendants were charged with two counts of second-degree felony aggravated child abuse and one count of class A misdemeanor child abuse.

“Child abuse can be manifest with both physical and emotional abuse. Parenting can be difficult, but there are acceptable ways to raise your children, and those usually focus on loving and caring for your child. Community resources are available for parents struggling with their responsibility for their children. Please reach out and ask for help if you need it,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. ”We want to thank the Unified Police Department for their officers' comprehensive investigation that helped lead to these charges being filed. All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”

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