A father of three starving children who were found living in a wooden box in the Californian desert smirked in court and asked why he was asked to appear on charges of cruelty on Friday.
Daniel Panico and his partner Mona Kirk have pleaded not guilty to three charges of felony child abuse and seemed baffled as to why they have been summoned to trial, reports the Mirror.
The 73 year old said "I am wondering why all of this is happening" in a short appearance at the court.
Police discovered the three children living in a shack made out of plywood in the desert in horrible conditions surrounded by faeces and piles of rubbish.
The officers described finding a travel trailer, which appeared to be abandoned, and a large rectangular box made of plywood on the property.
"The property had no electricity or running water. Several large holes and mounds of trash and human faeces were located throughout the property," read a police statement.
The San Bernardino Sheriff's Office said that Ms Kirk was living in the box - that measured 4ft high, 10ft wide, and 20ft long - alongside the children with Mr Panico in the nearby trailer.
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There were also between 30 and 40 cats on the premises - the cat's droppings were also found in the walls of the building.
The children, who are thought to be aged 14, 13, and 11, were not being held against their will, but were living in squalid conditions without electricity and running water, as well as amongst human faeces.
Officers learned that the children had been living like this for about 4 years.
A police statement said: "During the investigation, deputies learned the three victims have lived in the large rectangular box, (approximately 20 feet long by 4 feet high by 10ft wide) for approximately four years.
"The victims were found to have an inadequate amount of food and were living in an unsuitable and unsafe environment due to the conditions located on the property. Children and Family Service responded to the location and took custody of the three victims."
Temperatures in the desert can reach more than 37 degrees Celsius in summer and drop below freezing at night time in winter, the ramshackle dwelling had no heating system whatsoever outside of a load of duvets and blankets.
Mr Panico and Ms Kirk have had their bail set at $100,000 (£73,000) and the children have been taken into protective custody.
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