A Wisconsin couple is currently facing serious charges related to child abuse and neglect after their eldest child reportedly sought food from a neighbor’s house.

Authorities arrested Wilber Copeland, 42, and Megan Cis, 33, on December 12. The arrest followed a call to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department by a concerned woman who reported that one of her neighbor’s eight children had come to her home in search of food. According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Wausau Daily Herald, the child explained that their parents, identified as Copeland and Cis, were absent, and there was no food remaining in their RV residence.

Upon visiting the RV, deputies reportedly encountered a chaotic and unsanitary environment. The living space was cluttered, lacked sufficient heating for the children’s sleeping area, and contained spoiled food, dog feces, and marijuana.

The complaint details that the children informed deputies of their parents’ directive to clean the RV during their absence. As deputies continued their investigation, they uncovered more about the family’s dire living conditions. The children disclosed that Cis had been physically abusive, with one incident involving Cis allegedly lifting a child by her sweatshirt, choking her, and hitting her in the ribs, resulting in a black eye according to siblings. Additionally, Cis supposedly kicked the children in the ankles for failing to take out one of the family’s six dogs.

Further allegations from the children included claims that Copeland and Cis instructed them to deceive the police regarding the abuse to avoid getting into trouble.

Deputies said that when Copeland and Cis returned to their home, the deputies searched their RV and found three bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Marijuana was also found in the headboard of the couple’s bed.

Copeland and Cis were charged with being a party to the crime of intimidating a victim, eight counts of child neglect, possession of THC, and possession of paraphernalia. Cis was additionally charged with one count of child abuse.

Cis was booked into the Lincoln County Jail and posted $2,500 bond on Dec. 13. She is scheduled to appear in court again for a status conference on Jan. 12, 2026.

Copeland remains in custody at the Lincoln County Jail on $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 28, 2026.