Couple Accused of Forcing Kids to Eat Mold, Bugs, and Dog Food. A Wisconsin couple is in hot water after authorities say they spent years abusing and neglecting their six children. Casey F. Cano, 38, and his wife Mary L. Cano, 35, each face six counts of repeated physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm plus child neglect. They’re also hit with one count each of causing a child under 13 to view or listen to a sex act. The alleged abuse happened at their home between January 2018 and April 2022, when the kids ranged from 1 to 9 years old. The children told investigators that the parents would punish them by withholding food for days, leaving them so hungry they ate mold, bugs, dog food, and grass just to get by. They also described getting beaten with belts often enough to leave welts and draw blood. In one case, a child was reportedly left in the same diaper for three straight days without a change. Both posted bond and they’re now out of custody while the case moves forward. The next court date has not been set.

Gays Mills couple charged with child abuse reportedly starved and whipped children

CANO COUPLE WEB.png
A couple from Gays Mills is being charged after six children reported that they were starved and physically and mentally abused.

GAYS MILLS, Wis. (WXOW) – A couple from Gays Mills is being charged after six children reported that they were starved and physically and mentally abused.

Casey and Mary Cano are both being charged with 13 counts of child abuse, including neglecting a child and causing a child to view sexual activity.

According to the criminal complaint:

The abuse reportedly occurred between January 2018 and April 2022. In 2018, the six victims ranged in age from 1 to 9.

The investigation began in December of 2025. The six children told investigators that Casey and Mary starved them to the point that the children had to eat dog food, bugs, or grass.

They also told police Casey and Mary would whip them with a belt daily to the point that they would bleed. One witness said the belt whippings would happen to the children as young as 3 months old.

Casey and Mary had previously been convicted of the sexual assault of a 12-year-old back in 2022.

Casey Cano is currently out on a $2,000 cash bond. Mary Cano is out on a $1,000 cash bond.

Wisconsin couple allegedly starved six children for years, forcing them to eat mold, bugs and dog food

A Wisconsin couple was arrested after allegedly starving their six children for years, forcing them to eat mold, bugs and dog food as they endured repeated abuse, authorities said.

Casey Cano, 38, and Mary Cano, 35, face six counts each of repeated physical abuse of a child causing great bodily harm and child neglect, along with one count of causing a child under 13 to view or listen to a sex act, according to court records.

Prosecutors alleged that from January 2018 through April 2022, the couple repeatedly beat their children with belts, leaving welts and causing bleeding at their home in Crawford County, Wisconsin, News 8 Now reported.

The outlet reported that the parents also withheld food from their children as punishment.

Mugshot of Casey Cano.
Casey Cano is accused of starving and abusing his children for years, authorities said. Crawford County Jail

The children described abusive living conditions and were allegedly prevented from eating for several days, driving them to eat mold, bugs, dog food and grass due to extreme hunger, according to the criminal complaints.

One of the children said their sibling wore a diaper for three days without changing as “punishment,” News 8 Now reported.

The children were removed from the home around April 2022 in connection with a separate sexual abuse case involving another child, the complaints state.

Mugshot of Mary Cano.
Mary Cano’s charges have a “party to a crime” modifier, indicating that she did not stop the alleged criminal activity. Crawford County Jail

ABC affiliate WXOW reported that the children were between the ages of 1 and 9 during the alleged abuse.

The outlet added that the alleged beatings began when the children were as young as three months old.

The charges show that Mary Cano’s charges have a “party to a crime” modifier, indicating that she did not stop the alleged criminal activity.

Casey and Mary were previously convicted of the sexual assault of a 12-year-old in 2022, WXOW reported.

A new investigation into the couple began last December, and both individuals were arrested in March and have posted bond.

The couple’s next court appearance has not been scheduled.

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