Prosecutors say a Davenport couple severely abused a child. Now, the biological mother wants him back

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - Police and court records describe allegations investigators say are among the most severe they have seen — a child hidden away, deteriorating and unable to get help.

New court documents detail allegations that a 10-year-old Davenport boy was secretly confined, deprived of basic needs and physically abused, leading to injuries doctors say could have been fatal without immediate care.

Andrew Warrington, 48, and Kellie Warrington, 47, are charged with multiple felonies, including kidnapping, child endangerment, willful injury and neglect. They’re being held on a $2 million bond in the Scott County Jail.

The boy was taken to the University of Iowa for treatment because his injuries were too severe to be handled at local hospitals, the documents say. He is being treated for malnutrition and head injuries.

Now, the boy’s biological mother — Katarina — is speaking to TV6 Investigates, saying she trusted the system to keep her children safe.

“The only reason I know he didn’t pass was because the charge wasn’t upped to murder,” Katarina said.

Katarina said she recognized the Warringtons when she saw their booking photo — and feared immediately the victim would be one of her children who were living with the Warringtons.

“When I saw that mugshot, I unfortunately knew it was going to be one of my kids. I knew,” she said.

Katarina said she struggled with addiction years ago and was in an abusive relationship. She said that’s when the state removed her children and placed them with the Warringtons.

Katarina said she is not trying to erase her past — but insists her children were loved.

“I never tortured my kids,” she said. “I never did anything close to that. They were happy. They were loved.”

Katarina said she held on to mementos from the day her children were born, including hospital name cards, and followed their lives from a distance through occasional social media posts she says the Warringtons shared online.

“I never reached out out of respect for my kids and the relationships that I thought they had,” Katarina said. “If they were happy, then I would have to deal with that.”

Now, she said she’s angry — and blames the Department of Human Services for placing her children with the Warringtons and not seeing warning signs sooner.

The Warringtons are being held on $2 million bonds. Several of their family members and associates have filed letters of support with the court.

Katarina said she wants her children back and is ready to fight for them.

“They have to come home,” she said. “They have to come home.”