A husband and wife allegedly starved their adopted daughter and forced her to eat her own vomit.
Angela and Malcolm Cobler, who owned and ran a daycare centre, had originally pleaded not guilty and were set to be put on separate trials in August and September but are now expected to change their pleas.
The married pair allegedly locked their 11-year-old adopted child in her room and didn't feed her.
The abuse was discovered in July 2018 when officers arrived at their home responding to a report of child abuse.
In May 2018 officers received several reports that Malcolm was walking a child on a leash in Missoula, Montana in the USA.
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Witnesses said they say him yank the leash so hard the girl's feet left the ground, the Missoulian reported.
At the Cobler's home, police found a lock on the child's door, a bucket for toilet in her room, surveillance camera and duct tape used to restrain her.
Other reports say the girl was "noticeably emaciated" and had bruising all over her back.
The couple face nine charges filed in March 2019 including child endangerment, assault on a minor and tampering with evidence.
The Cobler's face a change-of-plea hearing on Thursday, July 9 after their trial dates were vacated.
