ANDERSON, Ind. (AP): A 22-year-old Anderson woman is scheduled to appear in court Monday on charges she participated in the abuse of her 16-year-old niece found weighing less than 40 pounds.

Crystal Sells is facing multiple counts of child neglect resulting in serious bodily injury. She's accused of helping her parents abuse the girl, who prosecutors say Sells occasionally had sole custody of.

Documents from the Indiana Department of Child Services indicate people expressed concern for the teen's welfare multiple times before she was rushed to the hospital in December. The department opened a case but later closed it.

Investigators say the girl was locked away in a room and was found covered in feces.

A message seeking comment was left early Monday with Sells' attorney.