Rhome, TX four young siblings were discovered locked in a dog cage with smeared with excrement in a barn.

Rhome, TX—On Wednesday, a North Texas judge said that four young siblings will remain in foster care after two were discovered locked in a dog cage and the others were found smeared with excrement in a barn.

The judge ruled that there are no suitable relatives to care for the children. The children range from ages 1 to 5 years old. Police say the children were found on February 12 on a property near Rhome, which is approximately 20 minutes north of Fort Worth. The children were found hungry and thirsty, and deputies found two kids locked in a 3 by 3 foot cage and the other two were filthy and partially clothed.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said this is the worst case of child abuse he has seen in his 44 year career. Akin said the children were starving and that there was a supply of food which was locked inside cabinets and a refrigerator in the barn. Deputies fed the children before takin them to the hospital to be medically evaluated.

The 4 year old girl and the boys, ages 5, 3, and 1, are “doing ok’, according to Department of Family and Protective Services spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales. The children’s mother, 24 year old Paige Harkings, is in jail with child endangerment charges. A man who was arrested in this case has been released on bond.