Four Zearing residents plead not guilty to abusing and handcuffing a family member to a bed

Four members of a Zearing family have filed not-guilty pleas for kidnapping and abuse charges.

Gary Graham, 44, Danielle Graham, 42, Aaron Williams, 20, and a 16-year-old were each charged with first-degree kidnapping and willful injury in March for allegedly handcuffing an adult family member to a bed.

The Story County Sheriff's Office said that the victim had been handcuffed to a bed in Zearing by their wrists and ankles and was repeatedly abused over a several-month span, dating back to November 2023.

Gary and Danielle Graham entered a plea of not guilty on Monday, April 15. Aaron Williams pled not guilty on March 29, and the 16-year-old pled not guilty on April 8.

The 16-year-old is being charged as an adult "due to the severity of the charges," a Story County Sheriff's Office news release said.

More: Four Zearing residents are accused of abusing and handcuffing a family member to a bed

Victim taken to hospital by family members with life-threatening injuries

The sheriff's office responded to a local hospital on Jan. 27 for reports of an 18-year-old adult showing signs of severe traumatic injuries and malnutrition. Hospital staff said Danielle Graham and Aaron Williams brought the patient to the hospital. Staff said the patient arrived conscious but was neither "alert nor responsive to stimulus."

The victim was suffering from severe and life-threatening injuries, according to a Story County Sheriff's Office news release. The injuries included a brain bleed, rib fractures and various wounds. The victim allegedly weighed 70 pounds when they entered the hospital, which staff said indicated malnourishment.

A hospital staff member allegedly asked the victim if they felt safe at home and because the victim had trouble speaking, shook their head "no," according to court documents.

Authorities believe the abuse escalated in early November 2023, resulting in "grave, long-term injury."

Danielle Graham, according to court documents, told a sheriff's deputy that the victim "left" their home in Zearing after turning 18 in November.

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Story County Sheriff's Office found videos, text messages

The sheriff's office believes all four family members were aware of the abuse and participated. Authorities also believe the victim did not move out of the home.

The sheriff's office discovered videos of the victim on the 16-year-old family member’s cellphone, according to court documents. The victim appeared to be "motionless" in the video and "malnourished with athletic tape around their wrists," according to court documents.

Another video shows the victim "standing motionless" and appearing to be "very thin" while a family member allegedly taunts the person, according to court documents.

Authorities also found messages between family members in which the victim was referred to as “retard” and “slave,” according to court documents.

Trials await Zearing family members

Danielle Graham's jury trial for first-degree kidnapping and willful injury is set to begin at 9 a.m., June 18.

A trial scheduling conference for Gary Graham is set for 11:15 a.m., Tuesday, April 23. Gary Graham, according to a criminal history check by the Story County Sheriff's Office, has been arrested twice in the past for domestic abuse assault.

Aaron Williams' trial scheduling conference for first-degree kidnapping and willful injury will occur on Wednesday, April 24.

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Zearing residents plead not guilty to abusing family member