A couple in Wisconsin was arrested on multiple charges of child abuse and neglect after authorities discovered that they were living in a dirty RV with a ton of weed that was accessible by their eight children.
Wilber Copeland and Megan Cis were arrested on Friday, December 12, after Lincoln County sheriff’s deputies received a report from a woman who claimed that one of her neighbors’ eight children came to her home asking for food. The child told the neighbor that their parents — who were later identified as Copeland, 42, and Cis, 33 — were not home at the time and there was no food in the RV they resided in, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Wausau Daily Herald.
Deputies then arrived at the family’s RV, which was reportedly a mess. The house was heated by propane, and while the couple’s bedroom was warm, there was inadequate heating where the children slept. Additionally, there was also rotten food, dog feces and marijuana scattered throughout the residence.
The children told deputies that Copeland and Cis ordered them to clean the RV when they weren’t home and that they would be spanked if the chore wasn’t complete, according to the criminal complaint. Cis was reportedly at McDonald’s picking up food for the family when the police arrived.
Deputies continued to ask the children to share more insight into their living situation, and it was revealed that Cis was allegedly physically abusive toward them. The kids described one incident in which Cis allegedly lifted one child by her sweatshirt to choke her and punch her in the ribs. The siblings said that the child ultimately ended up getting a black eye from the encounter.
Additionally, Cis was accused of kicking the children in the ankles when they didn’t take one of the family’s six dogs outside when asked.
The young family members continued to share disturbing allegations, including that Copeland and Cis told them that they would be in trouble if they didn’t lie to police about the alleged abuse they were experiencing at home.
Once Copeland and Cis returned to their home, deputies searched the RV and found three bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia left throughout the home.
The couple was charged with eight counts of child neglect, being a party to the crime of intimidating a victim, possession of THC and possession of paraphernalia. Cis was also charged with one count of child abuse.
Cis was booked into the Lincoln County Jail and was released one day later on Saturday, December 13, when she posted a $2,500 bond, according to the Wausau Daily Herald. She is next scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on January 12, 2026.
Meanwhile, Us Weekly can confirm that Copeland is still in custody in Lincoln County Jail on a $5,000 bond. Copeland is scheduled to be arraigned on January 28, 2026.
It is not currently clear if Copeland or Cis have entered pleas or obtained legal representation.
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
