Crime Alert. I'm Nancy Grace. Breaking crime news now. Chassity Candelario says she was just trying to keep her son from eating too many hot dogs when she handcuffed the 11-year-old to an oil tank in the basement. After nearly 17 hours, the boy breaks free and calls 911.

Straight out to Drew Nelson for more.

That's right, Nancy.

Prosecutors say what this 11-year-old describes is not an isolated incident.

Lebanon County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Pierre has Graff, says the child told investigators

this type of punishment is nothing new.

He sustains this type of treatment and has

and dates prior to this one that he has not ever witnessed his siblings having the same punishments.

Graff tells WGAL the incident began earlier that morning when the child was confronted over his

eating habits. She starts braiding him that he ate too many hot dogs in the days prior. She saw it

on the cameras and he was going to get his punishment. Grafts says the punishment escalated as the

child was taken into the basement. Grab the handcuffs and she actually handcuffed him to the fuel tank.

Mom then leaves and goes about her day. The child was left there alone in the basement for hours.

Prosecutors say he eventually managed to get free,

but feared what would happen when his mother returned.

He goes upstairs, and he actually recuffs himself to his bed

because the concern is when mom gets home,

and I'm not cuffed to the oil tank anymore,

what's going to happen to me?

What's going to happen to my siblings?

After nearly 17 hours without food, water, or a bathroom,

prosecutors say the child was able to get a phone from a sibling and call 911.

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