Bad Parents

[MrMean_]

Police: 17-Year-Old Found Starved In Cage, Wearing Diaper
Boy Found Weighing 49 Pounds

March 9, 2005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The adoptive parents of a 17-year-old boy who weighed 49 pounds when found in a home where he was forced to wear a diaper and sleep in a locked, cage-like bed have been charged with child neglect, authorities said.

Child welfare workers called to Wilson and Brenda Sullivan's home Jan. 10 found the teen wearing a diaper and appearing developmentally delayed, a police report said. The boy was less than 4-foot-6 and was in the weight range of a 61/2-year-old, officials said.

Chief Steve Weintraub of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said the parents told investigators that the boy was forced to sleep in a criblike cage with a wooden lid kept shut with chains and a lock because he had behavioral problems and was overeating at night. The crib was the size of a twin bed with locks that prevented its sides from being lowered.

Police: Parents Forced 17-Year-Old To Wear Diaper, Sleep In Locked Cage

The teen and two adopted 10-year-olds -- all with physical or mental disabilities -- were taken from the home and placed in protective custody. The Sullivans were charged with felony child neglect Tuesday, and each was being held on $200,003 bail.

Weintraub would not say if the younger children were abused, but the Department of Children & Families issued a statement saying the condition of the three children was a concern. The older boy, whose name wasn't released, has gained nearly 30 pounds and grown a half-inch in two months.

"We were disgusted and outraged by the condition of the children at that time," the statement said.

Wilson Sullivan's sister, Ordrianne Sullivan, moved to Jacksonville a week ago from Akron, Ohio, to help her brother and sister-in-law through what she called "blatantly wrong accusations."

"They're painting a picture of my family as monsters, and they're not, they truly are not," she said.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[wisdom_seeker]

I think the same thing happened here in northern ontario.. at least i think it was in northern ontario.. two boys.. their parents had passed away in a car accident when they were young. aunt and uncle took them in. boys thought it was their parents.. they were found in a cage too !!.. 4 yrs later and they were in court.. now the boys are 17 and 18 i think.. they were 14 then. anyhow.. at first the sentence was light.. the public showed their outrage.. and then a heavier penalty was given.. fuzzy on all the details... this is insane.