DONKEY: Couple Arrested For Abuse After Locking 11 Y/O Daughter In Garage To Learn ‘How To Be Homeless’

Summary

The Breakfast Club – "Donkey of the Day: Couple Arrested For Abuse After Locking 11 Y/O Daughter In Garage To Learn ‘How To Be Homeless’"

Date: May 14, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God
Podcast Network: The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode features Charlamagne Tha God’s “Donkey of the Day” segment, focusing on a Utah couple—Alicia and Robert McIntosh—arrested for child abuse after forcing their 11-year-old daughter to sleep in the garage to “teach her how to be homeless.” The hosts deliver a mix of serious critique, empathy for the child, and a broader discussion about parenting, discipline, and the trauma children endure in abusive homes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Background of the Incident (01:56–03:52)

• Charlamagne details the charges against Alicia and Robert McIntosh, who locked their daughter in the garage as punishment for expressing a desire to run away.
• Context of economic fears: Charlamagne references a survey about Americans fearing economic collapse and sarcastically frames the parents’ actions as misguided preparation.
• News report excerpt relays that Robert McIntosh also zip-tied his daughter to a bed to stop her from scratching her own face, causing distress.

“They are parents who are facing charges of aggravated child abuse after they allegedly locked their 11 year old child out of their home in an effort to teach the child how to be homeless.” — Charlamagne Tha God (01:58)

Description of Abuse and Its Impacts (02:53–04:10)

• The detailed abuse: The girl was zip-tied to a bed for allegedly scratching her own face, and the ladder was removed so she hung mid-air for 10–15 minutes.
• Charlamagne’s reaction: Appalled, he stresses these actions cause lasting trauma, not "lessons."

“You are not teaching your child how to be homeless. You are teaching your child how to be traumatized... how to not trust their parents... how to feel unsafe and unsupported…” — Charlamagne Tha God (05:01)

Parental Responsibility and Misguided Discipline (04:10–07:46)

• Charlamagne reflects on parenting: Admits to having fleeting disciplinary thoughts but notes the crucial difference between thoughts and actions.
• Parenting as preparation, not trauma: He reiterates that discipline has boundaries and abuse is never justified.
• Notable reference to pop culture: Alludes to “Good Times” and “Penny,” connecting generational perspectives on discipline and secrecy in families while reminding listeners children should report abuse.

“Parenting is supposed to prepare kids for the world, okay? Not traumatize them for it. All right? There’s a difference between discipline and cruelty and abuse.” — Charlamagne Tha God (07:22)

Reflections on Child's Well-being and Systemic Abuse (07:46–08:52)

• Empathy for the victim: Hosts express heartbreak and concern over where the girl will go now that both parents face investigation.
• A broader issue: Charlamagne laments that “a lot of kids out there [are] going through that same situation.”

“I feel so horrible for that young lady. Cause there’s a lot of kids out there going through that same situation.” — Charlamagne Tha God (08:42)

Misplaced First Impressions and Mental Health (07:51–09:09)

• Initial reactions questioned: Co-host jokes it sounded like a possession case; Charlamagne quickly clarifies it’s more likely self-harm due to high anxiety and trauma.
• Mental health context: The child’s scratching is identified as “self-mutilation”—a common response to abuse and stress.
• Lesson for listeners: “That’s why you should never ever go with your first thought.”

“She was not possessed. She probably scratching her face 'cuz she was stressed out and dealing with high levels of anxiety and was terrified and traumatized in this abusive relationship. So she was scratching her face because she was harming herself.” — Charlamagne Tha God (08:06)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Donkey of the Day” intro:
  “Some donkey todays just sell themselves.” – Charlamagne Tha God (01:36)
• Cultural reference:
  “If that child was raised off Good Times like we was in the 1900s, then they would have learned from watching Linnella Gordon punish Penny. You don't bring nobody else into your business…” – Charlamagne Tha God (06:09)
• Empathy from the co-hosts:
  “My niece is 11.” – Guaranteed Human Host (08:27)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:56] – Donkey of the Day announcement; case context and background
• [02:53] – News report details abuse: garage confinement and zip-tying
• [04:10] – Charlamagne’s reflection on parenting, trauma, and boundaries
• [05:01] – Key takeaway on what the parents’ actions actually teach
• [06:09] – Reference to pop culture and secrecy in family discipline
• [07:46] – “Hee haw” ridicule from the show’s tradition
• [08:06] – Discussion shifts to child’s mental health and self-harm
• [08:52] – Concern raised on the young girl’s next steps and foster care
• [09:09] – Final lesson: Don’t trust your first impression, especially in abuse cases

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Tone & Delivery

Charlamagne and his co-hosts maintain their signature blend of outrage, empathy, pop-culture referencing, and humor—even as they discuss a story of child abuse. The tone oscillates between incredulity, heartfelt concern for the child, and satirical criticism of parental negligence.

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Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode’s “Donkey of the Day” delivers a pointed critique of abusive discipline disguised as parenting lessons. The hosts drive home the difference between preparing children for hardship and inflicting trauma, while expressing deep empathy for young victims and exasperation with abusers. The segment closes with a call for greater parental self-awareness, mental health understanding, and systemic protections for vulnerable children.

Transcript

[Guaranteed Human Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

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[Robert Smigel]

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[Co-host or Caller]

Funnier.

[Robert Smigel]

This week my guests SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an acapella band with their between songs banter.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Where does your group perform?

[Robert Smigel]

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and friends on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Timbo]

Last night a blown call changed the game. This morning the Internet lost its mind and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo and every episode we're cutting through the breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source. The athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports slice on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo, Slice Life 12 and the TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

The donkey thing that he all. He's a bunch of donkeys around here. It's time for Donkey of the Day. They may be the donkey of the day by the things that I said. Damn Charlemagne. Some donkey todays just sell themselves.

[Co-host or Caller]

It was you. What accountability are you taking?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'd have made donkey today on the Breakfast Club. That being said, I want to start off with this donkey right here. Yes, Donkey Today for Thursday, May 14th goes to 46 year old Alicia Lenae McIntosh and 46 year old Robert James McIntosh, both of Taylorville, Utah. Okay. They are parents who are facing charges of aggravated child abuse after they allegedly locked their 11 year old child out of their home in an effort to teach the child how to be homeless. I keep telling y' all on this radio every single day that times is hard, okay? Economic hardship is impacting everybody. There was a YouGov survey that found 42% of Americans believe a total economic collapse is on the way. And I guess some Parents are preparing their kids for the future. Okay, well, that's not what happened here. What happened here was the child said they wanted to run away and the parents said, oh, word. Let's go to KSL.com for the report, please.

[News Reporter]

A man arrested last week for allegedly making his 11 year old daughter sleep in the garage to experience being homeless has now been charged with zip tying the young girl. Robert James McIntosh, 46, of Taylorsville was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with two counts of aggravated child abuse, a third degree felony. Both he and his wife, Alicia Line A McIntosh, 46, were arrested Friday by Taylorsville police for investigation of aggravated child abuse. However, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office has now determined there isn't enough evidence to charge Alicia McIntosh for the child abuse she was suspected of committing. And neither parent will face charges for allegedly making their daughter sleep in the garage. Charging documents filed Monday against Robert McIntosh state that the young girl was scratching her face and causing it to bleed. So McIntosh found zip ties and zip tied her to a bed. She said McIntosh then removed the ladder from her bunk bed so she couldn't climb onto the bed and she hung there unable to touch the ground for 10 to 15 minutes.

[Co-host or Caller]

Damn.

[News Reporter]

When questioned, McIntosh told police that he zip tied his daughter one time for less than 10 minutes to stop her from scratching herself. Alicia McIntosh stated she knew McIntosh zip tied their daughter to her bed, but said it was a moment of desperation when he had been home alone with her. The charges state.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, this is a lot, man. You know, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, who celebrated his 93rd born day this week, dropping a clue bombs for Minister Farrakhan. Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan always says, when you see men fall, don't laugh, learn. And this is a prime example because sometimes you have to see what happens to others when they do things you thought about. Okay, I have absolutely threatened to put my child outside, all right? I would never do it, okay? Especially now after reading this story. But I've thought about it and sometimes we need to see examples of how stupid things actually are when you do them. Because look, man, kids are difficult and there is no manual to raising them. I have so much respect for my parents now that I am one. I get it, I get it, I get it. Kids will test your patience in ways that you can't even imagine. Okay, I don't even understand, you know, psychologically, how you can love something so much, but on the flip side, want to hurt them so bad when they trying you. But Alicia and Robert, this Isn't the lesson you thought it was? Okay, first of all, y', all, this is. You're. You're abusing your child in multiple ways. But I want to just talk about the. The homeless aspect of it. When you said you were teaching your child how to be homeless. You are not teaching your child how to be homeless. You are teaching your child how to be traumatized. You are teaching your child how to not trust their parents. You are teaching your child how to feel unsafe and unsupported because it all starts at home. All right? I don't. It wasn't in the news report, but when they put him in the garage, this kid went to a neighbor's house to use the bathroom because his parents wouldn't let him use the bathroom. So he left the garage and went to a neighbor's house and told the neighbor he would rather. I don't even know if it was a he, but they told the neighbor they would rather live with them because he. Their parents, locked them out of the house. And when the daddy picked up the child from his neighbor's house, they punished the child again, made him sleep in the garage because how dare you go to the neighbor's house telling them folks all business. See, the first law of nature is self preservation. So that young child did what they had to do to survive by going to the neighbor's house. But if that child was raised off Good Times like we was in the 1900s, then they would have learned from watching Linnella Gordon punish Penny. You don't bring nobody else into your business, okay? But you should, right? And the punishments Penny got if she dared to bring somebody else in their family business. Oh, my God. Okay? If that child was watching good times, they would have known involving the neighbors was going to escalate the situation, okay? And with Alicia and Robert's track record, you know, you probably want to keep that child away from them, dare I say forever, okay? These parents need counseling and extensive therapy. At least the dad, because I know the dad right now, was plotting and planted some severe punishment for this young child. Because not only did you go to the neighbor's house to complain about them, the police came, and you got him arrested. Oh, man. He's planning to go get a hot iron right now. This story is just a prime example of. Everybody is not ready to be a parent, okay? Kids do not deserve to be in abusive relationships with their parents, okay? They didn't ask to be here, all right? Parenting is supposed to prepare kids for the world, okay? Not traumatize them. For it. All right? There's a difference between discipline and cruelty and abuse. All right? If your lesson plan for your child includes, you know, them freezing in a garage, you know, with a bucket for a bathroom, or hog tying their wrist together and letting them hang places, you're not teaching responsibility. You're not. You're teaching fear. Okay? And too many parents do confuse control with care. Please let Remy Ma give Alicia and Robert McIntosh the biggest hee haw.

[Diana Maria Riva]

Hee haw, hee haw.

[Co-host or Caller]

You stupid mother.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Are you dumb?

[Co-host or Caller]

Yo, you know what my initial thought was, right? Because if they zip tied her, if he zip tied her, right? Like what? From keeping her from scratching her face. It honestly sounds like she was like possessed. That sound like some Emily Rose.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She was not possessed. She probably scratching her face cuz she was stressed out and. And dealing with high levels of anxiety and was terrified and traumatized in this abusive relationship. So she was scratching her face because she was harming herself. That's what, that's like a self mutilation.

[Guaranteed Human Host]

Poor baby.

[Co-host or Caller]

Yeah, yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She wasn't possessed by nothing. How.

[Co-host or Caller]

All right, how old was the little girl?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

11.

[Guaranteed Human Host]

My niece is 11. I was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh my God.

[Co-host or Caller]

Yeah, well, good thing he's arrested now. He's in jail now, but damn. So what that mean for the little girl? Where did she go? Cause she can't go back into the care of her mother cause they both gotta be investigated.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I really don't know. I have no idea. But I feel so horrible for that young lady. Cause there's a lot of kids out there going through that same situation.

[Guaranteed Human Host]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, now it's time for just fix my mess. I don't know what type of advice y' all expect to get from her. Shut up. After hearing what she's got to say,

[Co-host or Caller]

just hey, yo, no yo.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The young girl is possessed.

[Co-host or Caller]

I said that's what I thought at first.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She wondered why she be getting in trouble.

[Co-host or Caller]

That's what I thought at first.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And that's why you should never ever go with your first thought. Matter of fact, think three, four times before you shut up. Anyway, we'll be back with Just fix my mess. Donkey of the day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull Lamentsoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the bul. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

[TikTok Workout Host]

Yes, you can. A five minute quick and easy calorie burning workout. Give it a try. Come Join our Sweat Sesh on TikTok,

[Robert Smigel]

another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite on Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week. My guests, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an acapella band with their between songs banter.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Where does your group perform?

[Robert Smigel]

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and friends on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Timbo]

Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the Internet lost its mind and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source. The athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports slice on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo, Slice Life 12 and the TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

[Diana Maria Riva]

Hey, I'm Diana Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad. From Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic bs, unfiltered conversations from night sweats to fupas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex?

[Guaranteed Human Host]

Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex?

[Diana Maria Riva]

Sometimes they say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure gonna try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be With Diana Maria Riva on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Guaranteed Human Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.