OGDEN, Utah, May 25, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A Roy couple charged with abusing three children pleaded not guilty on Thursday in 2nd District Court.

Matthew Earl Waldmiller, 40, and Diane Seifert Waldmiller, 41, are each charged with three counts of child abuse by intentionally inflicting physical injury, a second-degree felony.

Roy Police Sgt. Matthew Gwynn told Gephardt Daily in mid-March that Diane and Matthew Waldmiller were taken into custody March 17 after police — acting on a tip — went to the couple’s home.

Once inside, investigators say they found four children: three boys, ages 7 to 11, and a 2-year-old girl.

The boys, police say, were confined to a first-floor bedroom, where they spent up to 13 hours a day lying on three bare mattresses. They were malnourished and showed signs of physical abuse, including ligature marks around their wrists from being routinely bound with zip ties. They also showed signs of having their mouths and eyes duct-taped shut.

Investigators say the room the boys were held in had no lights. The windows were screwed shut and had been painted black — retribution for an earlier escape which ended when the boys were found dumpster diving for food behind a nearby school.

Gwynn said the boys were often punished by being served heavily salted rice laced with cayenne pepper, and they weren’t allowed to drink water after 2 p.m.

He said the boys were also denied access to a bathroom and resorted to relieving themselves in a furnace vent.

“These things do happen from time to time, sadly, but it has been a long time since I’ve seen something like this,” Gwynn said.

Gwynn said Diane and Matthew Waldmiller are longtime foster parents and had actually adopted the boys after providing foster care for them.

The 2-year-old girl found inside the home was also being fostered by the Waldmillers. Police say she showed no signs of abuse. The girl and the three boys have been placed in protective custody.

The Waldmillers on Thursday waived their right to a preliminary hearing. Their next scheduled court date is June 8.