Natalie Finn's mother Nicole Marie Finn, and father, Joseph Michael Finn II, were charged in their daughter's death. Photo / Supplied
Natalie Finn's mother Nicole Marie Finn, and father, Joseph Michael Finn II, were charged in their daughter's death. Photo / Supplied
A 16-year-old girl from Iowa died from starvation after her parents allegedly tortured her and deprived her of food, clothing and healthcare.
Natalie Finn from West Des Moines died on October 24 from emaciation due to denial of critical care, according to the Polk County medical examiner's office.
Her mother, 42-year-old Nicole Marie Finn of West Des Moines, and father, 45-year-old Joseph Michael Finn II, have both been charged with her death.
The teenager had repeatedly asked neighbours for food and clothing in the months before her death in her West Des Moines house, pictured here. Photo / Supplied
Both face charges of first-degree kidnapping, child endangerment causing serious injury and neglect of a dependent person. Nicole Finn was charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death.
She is being held in Polk County Jail on a US$2.1 million cash bond. Joseph Finn has a US$1.5 million cash bond.
According to court documents, Nicole Finn killed her daughter "intentionally, willfully, deliberately, with premeditation and malice aforethought".
The Finns are accused of secretly confining Natalie and two of her siblings, a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy, inside their small home in West Des Moines.
The pair are also are accused of using "unreasonable force, torture or cruelty" to cause serious injury to the three children.
The children were deprived of food, clothing, shelter, healthcare or supervision, which caused "substantial" physical, mental and emotional harm, according to the complaints. In Natalie's case, those actions caused her death, the complaint states.
In addition to the three children listed, the Finns also have two other children, the eldest of which is about to turn 23. The couple also have another 15-year-old.
Natalie Finn, 16, suffered cardiac arrest in October caused by emaciation due to denial of critical care. Photo / Supplied
Police only began investigating the family after the emergency services were called when Natalie was suffering cardiac arrest. She later died at a local hospital.
According to WBLZ Natalie was a student at Walnut Creek Campus school but had not been enrolled this year.
Described by neighbours as outgoing and sweet, they said they had little interaction with the Finn's children.
Concerns had been previously been aired about Natalie's well-being to the West Des Moines Police Department five months earlier after a neighbour told how the teenager would wear the same clothes for several days and smell.
She would also ask for bits of food from the neighbour for herself and her siblings.
