[punchkin]

I just fininshed reading an article in the paper that cut me to the core. I was very apalled to say the least. I know that ghild abuse and neglect is still going on, but this is horribly wrong. Here's what the article says in the Tennessean.

11 kids found locked in cages.
Wakeman, Ohio - SHERIFF'S debuties found 11 children locked in cages less than 31/2 feet high inside a home, but a couple denied they had abused or neglected the children.
Ajudge yesterday put the children, ages 1 to 14 in foster homes.They were found in nine cages built into the walls of the house near this small city inin northern Ohio, accordingto the Huron County Sheriff's dept. They had no blankets or pillows, and the cages were rigged with alarms that sounded if opened, Lt. Randy Sommers said.
The childre told authorities they slept in the cages, 40 inches high and forty inches deep, at night. Doors to some of the cages were blocked with heavy furniture.
Sharen and Mike Gravelle are adoptive or foster parents for all 11 children, officials said. Prosecutors were reviewing the case, but no charges had been filed as of last night. County prosecuter Russel Leffler said the children had various disabilites, including autism.



To say I am outraged about this story is putting it mildly.
I'm shocked and hurt that no-one has been arrested yet.

[Kate1129]

This makes me believe in the death penalty!

[tlc4kidz]

I heard this tonight on our local news. The thing that horrified me was that the newscaster said they did it on the advice of a therapist . The way he said it made it sound as if it was okay because a "professional" recommended it......I think they all need to have their heads examined.

[IowaGirl515]

Originally Posted by tlc4kidz

I heard this tonight on our local news. The thing that horrified me was that the newscaster said they did it on the advice of a therapist . The way he said it made it sound as if it was okay because a "professional" recommended it......I think they all need to have their heads examined.

Does it sound to you like they perhaps misunderstood the therapist or something got crossed there? I've heard therapists that recommend "sleeping rooms" but not as small as what these were. Maybe it was taken to an extreme.

[bumpkin]

This is awful, just awful....there are no words....

[jackiesbooks]

It is very wierd. If the therapist, told them that he should go to jail.
They say the kids were in good health and appeared to be taken care otherwise. They were doing this for years - did a CW never go in their house?

[ajjhmf]

Originally Posted by jackiesbooks

did a CW never go in their house?

That's what I was wondering when I read this. Those poor kids.

Jenny

[AmyAnne]

That's what I'm wondering... WHO is this "professional" and where the heck was the CW???

[momofmykids]

Originally Posted by Kate1129

This makes me believe in the death penalty!

ME TOO!!! WHY haven't charges been filed? AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!

One of our PATH participants brought in a paper the other night where a parent had abused their son by hooking him up to a milking machine (for cows...use your imagination here...) and the parents got their child back after working their plan!!!!!!! Hey, I'm all for reunification, but these parents should have never EVER been able to see the light of day again EVER!!!!

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE FOR KIDS???????

This makes me so very angry!!!!!!!

[yanknrebel]

This article was on the Compuserve news board a day or so ago. It also said that there was another case in OHIO where a therapist had told another couple to do this to their child. I have to wonder if this is the same therapist? WHY has no one been arrested? How could that NOT be defined as severe child abuse? These children are NOT dogs or animals to cage. Heaven forbid, what would happen if there was a fire. YES, WHERE was the cw all this time? During an interview the woman's mother told resporters that "These children were happier than any other child could could be" "They have been laughing and playing". The next door neighbor said that they never saw this couple abuse these children. That the children would all play outside. That they could hear crying at night coming from the house, but it didn't sound like they were being hurt. It also said that the cages were all upstairs. SO maybe this caseworker NEVER did a walk through of the house. Mine never does. I think they should be required to. While I am not the best housekeeper and my bedroom is always a mess, she would be free to walk through to make sure I have no cages, or chains to bind these babies, as so many stories have told us has happened to these poor innocents. It makes me mad as well. Obviously the woman's mother knew what was going on. SHe did nothing. SHe should be put in jail as well.

[AmyAnne]

I want the name of this therapist published. In flashing neon lights. On a billboard in every major city. So NOBODY uses him/her

And THIS my friends is why attachment therapy gets a bad reputation. Not because of the many, MANY qualified and effective attachment therapists out there... but because of people like this.

[melliemoo]

Man, we joke about how it's easy to put the dogs in their crates and we wish we could do the same with kids, but we're kidding! I was appalled when I saw this, and the first thing I said to DH was that those kids were going to end up in foster care. Broke my heart.

Melissa =)

[cathy102]

Yea, Where in the heck was the SW???? Those poor kids. Those people should be in jail...

[numbr1dbcksfan]

If the therapist, told them that he should go to jail.

Well I think the therapist should lose his or her license... BUT a therapist cannot make you do something.. just merely suggest...

People should know right from wrong enough to say to themselves... What a crazy suggestion.. Im not going to put my children in cages. Then file a complaint.

Dont just DO what someone tells you to do... I hold the parents firmly to blame. Now if the therapist gave them the cages and helped them set them up.. etc... had any hand in it... then I think there should be charges... but without that... just lose his or her license.

If social workers never saw cages that had been there for three years... then the parents must have moved them out of site... so then-- they knew right from wrong.

UGH! This makes me SO MAD. Not enough to believe in the death penalty.. but enough to believe in making them live in cages.... aka Jail.

[Sunshine Mom]

Does anyone else think that maybe someone should of thought that most people cant handle 11 special needs kids that close in age without ongoing support?

Although I dont agree with their actions, I can imagine that at some point they got desperate for sleep and thought this was a viable option. The neighbors interviewed yesterday on CNN said the kids were well dressed, well fed and seemed happy - but with special needs.

But I know how hard two sn kids make me work ... I cant imagine 11!