Couple arrested after child goes to neighbor's house looking for food — Photo 61814404 © Jiri Hera | Dreamstime.com

Whitewater, WI – A Wisconsin couple has been charged with multiple counts of child abuse and neglect after one of their children sought food at a neighbor’s home. Wilber Copeland, 42, and Megan Cis, 33, were arrested on Tuesday after Lincoln County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from a neighbor.

The neighbor reported that one of Copeland and Cis’s eight children had arrived at her home asking for food. The child informed the neighbor that their parents were absent and that there was no food available in their RV.

Upon investigation, deputies observed unsanitary conditions inside the RV, including inadequate heating, spoiled food, dog feces, and marijuana. The children reported that their parents ordered them to clean the RV during their absence and that Cis had physically abused them on multiple occasions.

According to the children, Cis once choked one child and punched her in the ribs, resulting in visible injuries. The children also stated that they were instructed to lie about the situation to avoid getting in trouble.

Upon their return, deputies located additional marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the RV. Copeland and Cis face charges including child neglect, possession of THC, and possession of paraphernalia. Cis has been additionally charged with child abuse.

Cis was booked into Lincoln County Jail and posted a $2,500 bond on Wednesday. She is set to appear in court for a status conference on January 12, 2026. Copeland remains in custody with a $5,000 bond, with his arraignment scheduled for January 28, 2026.

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