What started out as as an apparent cry for help from a mother trying to get her children out of an abusive home, turned into a cross-country search and has resulted in child abuse charges against both parents.

 
In October, Shavon Fero contacted police, claiming that she and her five children were being verbally and physically abused by her husband, Richard Fero. Authorities investigated the claim and determined that it had merit. She was provided with a safe house, but while on the way both Shavon and her children disappeared.

 
A search began, with officers soon realizing that she had reunited with her husband and together they had fled the state with the children.

 
The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, where the Feros were known to have family and may have sought refuge. The family was discovered in Fort Myers, and Richard Fero was arrested and charged with child abuse. His wife returned to Michigan, and the children were taken by CPS.

 
Richard was charged with single counts of second degree child abuse and fourth degree child abuse, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and being a habitual offender. His bond was set at $150,000 cash or surety. But the story doesn’t end there.

 
On the same day that Richard Fero was extradited back to Michigan, a warrant was issued for his wife, Shavon Fero, by the Cheboygan County Prosecutor’s Office. She was arrested on a charge of second degree child abuse. After arraignment, her bond was set at $20,000.

 
In addition, both Feros are now facing misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty, as they abandoned their farm animals when they fled the state.

 
Both Richard and Shavon’s preliminary exams on the child abuse charges have been scheduled for December 22nd at 1:30pm, in the 89th District Court in Cheboygan.