Police: Father accused of locking young children in room

SHELBY, N.C. — A man is in jail, accused of padlocking a 2-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy inside a room while he went out.

Day care workers discovered the children Wednesday morning when they came to pick them up.

Tracy Henson is charged with child abuse

Neighbors said Henson is a single dad. They said they are surprised by these charges because they believe Henson is a good father.

"For the kids, my heart is broken; my heart is really broken for the kids," a neighbor said.

Neighbors saw investigators at the scene.

Channel 9 news partners at the Shelby Star report that inside the house "there were knives, medication and beer lying around, bags of dirty diapers hanging from the walls" and old food in the kitchen.

They also say the bathtub was full of water and that tools, motor parts and power equipment all over the house.

Neighbors can't believe the allegations.

"He was a good dad he takes good care of them. Anywhere he goes, he take them with him," another neighbor said.

Henson is being held on $100,000 bond.

WSOC