MISSOULA — The former daycare owners charged for allegedly abusing their own adopted child in Missoula will not go to trial.
Angela and Malcolm Cobler pleaded not guilty to child abuse charges in April 2019.
Separate trials had been scheduled for August and September, but those trials have been vacated. Both will now appear before a Judge on July 9 for change of plea hearings.
Missoula police responded to a report of child abuse on July 23 and at the Cobler’s home uncovered evidence of the possible abuse.
The 11-year-old victim was "noticeably emaciated" and had bruising all over her back.
Officers also discovered a lock on the child’s door, a bucket for a toilet in her room, a surveillance camera, and duct tape that was used to restrain the child.
The room also had duct tape on the floor to show her where to stand so she would be in view of the surveillance cameras.
Court documents say that the girl would go long stretches without food and that she would be forced to eat her own vomit.
The couple would also make food inedible by putting extremely excessive amounts of hot sauce or hot peppers on the food.
