A Utah father and his girlfriend are behind bars after they allegedly starved a 5-year-old girl to the point where she had to resort to eating her own feces and other non-food items such as Play-Doh.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has charged David Fivas, 32, and Jessica Harmes, 44, with child torture. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the investigation by the West Valley City Police Department commenced on August 30 after Fivas brought his 5-year-old daughter to the hospital, concerned about her lack of weight gain and her tendency to consume her own feces. Fivas reportedly stated that he had custody of the child since she was around 15 months old, noting that her position on the growth chart had continually declined.

Medical professionals observed that the child’s weight was comparable to that of a typical 16-month-old. However, after spending more than two weeks in the hospital receiving “consistent, scheduled meals,” she gained almost 9 pounds, as detailed in the affidavit.

Fivas reportedly informed investigators that his daughter would consume food until she vomited and ingested non-edible items like Play-Doh and wax. He also alleged that she would “steal” food from the refrigerator and pantry, prompting them to install child locks. Fivas claimed he perceived her as a “thief.”

Authorities suspect that Fivas and Harmes deliberately withheld food from the girl. Fivas confessed to harboring “resentment” towards her and acknowledged mistreating her. Police noted that another child in the household was not subjected to starvation.

“Over a period of at least two years, the victim’s health and growth have been severely compromised,” detectives reported. “The defendants, angered by the victim’s ‘theft’ of food they were denying her, went as far as to secure every cabinet and appliance containing food with child safety locks.”

Cops don’t believe that the girl was overeating, but rather trying to “save” herself by eating non-food items or scavenging for food when everyone was asleep, per the affidavit.

“A common late-stage manifestation of starvation is the ability to overcome revulsion and eat non-food in an attempt to sustain themselves, and that eating feces is likely due to starvation,” cops wrote.

Fivas and Harmes allegedly tried to concoct the overeating story to keep detectives from learning what was really going on inside the home.

After Harmes became pregnant with their child, Fivas said he called the Department of Child and Family Services to give the victim up but they wouldn’t take her.

“Harmes said that Fivas asked them to take custody of her because he didn’t want her and didn’t want to take care of her,” the affidavit reads.

The starvation wasn’t the only form of abuse the girl was suffering, cops said.

Detectives discovered she was forced to sleep on the ground with only a blanket. The defendants also did not put her in school, making police believe they were trying to isolate her. Another child in the home confirmed many of the allegations against the defendants, cops said.

Prosecutors during Fivas’ bond hearing on Thursday called the incident extremely concerning and asked that he be kept in jail without bond.

“This is a matter of being deprived food and being prevented from stealing food,” the prosecutor said. “Apparently, she was so hungry, she’s still in diapers and eating her own feces. This is a little beyond just not taking care of a child or neglecting a child. This is intentionally harming this particular child.”

Judge Richard W. Daynes on Thursday denied Fivas’ release from the Salt Lake County Jail.

“I do agree that this individual is a danger to the community, not just to his own children, but to any other children. Based on the depravity of the allegations here, it would appear to me that there’s more going on here than just simple neglect.”

Fivas’ next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 24. Harmes also remains in jail without bond.

Their children are in the custody of the state.