MINNEAPOLIS (November 6, 2012)--A Minnesota man and his wife starved their 8-year-old adopted son so severely his bones protruded and his brain atrophied, authorities say.

A criminal complaint filed last week charges Mona Hauer and Russell Hauer of North Mankato with six felonies, including neglect and malicious punishment of a child.

The complaint says the boy weighed less than 35 pounds when he was taken to the hospital.

Authorities allege he was given a liquid-only diet, and an alarm was installed on his door so he wouldn't steal food.

He told authorities he had taken rotting food from a compost site because he was hungry.

The adoptive mother told authorities they put the boy on a liquid diet because he threw up his food.