Woman accused of locking up and withholding food from 12-year-old son

Police have arrested and charged a 42-year-old Hilo woman who allegedly locked her 12-year-old son in his bedroom without food as punishment for taking food from the family’s locked refrigerator.

Ann Marie Lung is charged with with unlawful imprisonment and first-degree terroristic threatening.

The boy reportedly escaped from his second-story room by climbing out a window Monday morning after being locked inside since Saturday night. Police say the juvenile ran to school and reported to a school resource officer that he had been given only water and no food after being locked up by Lung. The victim said Lung had given him a choice corporal punishment or being locked in his room for two days without food.

According to police, Lung was arrested without incident at her Hema Street residence and the boy and four minor siblings were taken into protective custody.

Lung was given a court date of Oct. 24 and was released from custody after posting $12,000 bail.