Husband kept wife in chains for 10 years

A man tortured his wife and kept her in chains for a decade, treating her as his slave, US authorities say.

A criminal complaint stated the woman, 43, was burned on her back and breasts with irons and frying pans, and her foot was smashed under farm equipment. She also allegedly delivered a stillborn child while in chains. Another infant survived.

Peter Lizon, 37, is in a West Virginia jail on $US300,000 ($295,000) bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on a malicious wounding charge on Friday.

Jackson County Chief Deputy Tony Boggs said the victim had endured more torture than virtually any domestic violence victim he had ever seen.

Lizon's lawyer was not immediately available for comment. He told WSAZ-TV the allegations were false.