A woman who operates a popular YouTube channel aimed at kids is facing allegations she used pepper spray to discipline her seven adopted children, and locked them for days inside a closet in their home outside Phoenix, authorities said on Wednesday (US time).
Two of her adult sons also were arrested on suspicion of failing to report the alleged abuse.
A police report said Machelle Hackney's adopted children had no food, water or access to a bathroom for days while inside the closet at her home in the small city of Maricopa.
![Machelle Hackney is accused of abusing seven adopted children. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/DCRPSFATRZY3A3HUM3FOSRQBPI.jpg?auth=e686c00315cb221f527a6b275640f5a8144e6bebbeb78eabe69a015c8c824b91&width=16&height=20&quality=70&smart=true)
It said officers who went to the house last week reported that six of the children appeared malnourished and underweight. It was not immediately known how many children Hackney has.