I’m surprised that no one has noticed the ironic byline on the article.
Yes, it can be read a few different ways.
The byline is, of course, from the Chronicle's editor, and the Chronicle being a MSM fishwrap to the left of Stalin's era Pravda, has chosen it to prejudice the public against the parents of the 17 year old girl.
There isn't a degenerate that they don't cherish in Sodom by the Sea.
Think of the headline: Parents accused of killing gangland pimp holding 17 year old daughter.