Littleton couple accused of starving, beating adopted son

LITTLETON, Colo. - Two Littleton parents are behind bars, being held on suspicion of beating their adopted son unconscious, and starving him.

On September 12, Christine Arnold called 9-1-1 from her Littleton home, saying her son had fallen down some stairs. But first responders saw "bruises and abrasions all over his body," and quickly alerted police.

Investigators found a belt buckle that matched the U-shaped bruises all over the child's body, and made another discovery -- the 6 year old boy was "severely malnourished."

Even though the child had weighed 31 pounds prior to his adoption, at age two, he only weighed 30 pounds at the hospital.

Both Christine Arnold and her husband, Randal Arnold, were interviewed. They told police the child had injured himself by banging his head against the wall.

But both were taken to jail suspected of child abuse. They go to court Thursday to be advised of the charges against them.

Investigators determined that the principal at the child's school, Columbine Hills Elementary, actually called police and social services before when the child came to school with stitches in his lip.

It is unclear why no action was taken at that time.

Jefferson County Schools did not return our call seeking their comment.