Posted on 07/26/2005 12:22:29 PM PDT by Mister_Speaker
'This was torture': Boy malnourished, kept in closet
By Sheila K. Stogsdill The Oklahoman
BRAGGS - For longer than he can remember, a 4-year-old boy subsisted on ramen noodles and a makeshift oatmeal mixture and endured beatings and handcuffs, all for wetting the bed, investigators said Monday. "This was torture," said Tim Brown, a Muskogee County sheriff's detective, who called it "the worst child abuse case I've ever seen."
The boy weighed 26 pounds when he was found June 25.
Gore police responding to an anonymous tip of neglect found the child malnourished and severely beaten. Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson said the child was staying with his aunt, Sharon Smith, who was later charged in Sequoyah County in connection with the case. She is free on bail, he said.
Sheriff's deputies later searched the Smith residence in Braggs, finding a dilapidated trailer with no electricity or running water. The home had a large hole in its roof, and its bathroom contained a trash bag for holding human waste, Brown said.
The child's mother, Melanie Smith, 24, and her half-brother, Roy Albert Smith, 20, are being held without bail in the Muskogee County jail.
They are charged with child abuse, neglect and child endangerment.
"People knew this was going on and did nothing to stop it. There should be a lot of people in jail," Pearson said.
When investigators found the boy, he had "bruises upon bruises" all over his body plus open wounds on his feet, the result of dropping two, 2½-pound dumbbells.
Brown said the boy told him his punishment included being forced to hold the weights above his head. When his arms weakened, he would drop the weights on his head and feet, the child told Brown.
He said the boy told him his mother eventually taped the weights to his hands and put a football helmet on his head.
In the first few days after his rescue, the boy walked with a small cane and had patches of hair falling out, Brown said. In the month he has spent in foster care since then, the boy has gained 9 pounds, Brown said.
He said the boy told him he was forced to pick up boulders, and when he could not, he was handcuffed and tied up.
Brown said when he searched the house, he found no children's toys or books, simply one stuffed animal. When arrested, Roy Smith was carrying $1,600 in cash.
The Smiths face a Nov. 10 preliminary hearing.
When investigators asked the boy how much time had passed since he'd had a bath, he couldn't recall, Brown said.
They also asked him if his family had ever celebrated his birthday, and he said no.
"He didn't know what Christmas was," Brown said.
The boy told investigators his mother would hit him in the side of his face with a closed fist, and that he was kept in a closet most of the day.
"He looked like he was from a third-world country," Brown said.
The kitchen's cupboards were bare, but Brown said he found plenty of dry and canned dog food, plus shampoo and vitamins for the Smiths' two dogs.
"The dogs were in better health than he was," Brown said.
Contributing: Tony Thornton
Jesus wept.
Waiting...
Waiting...
The sick bastards ought to be shot.
That would be my emotion talking.
That's just tragic. I hope the parents are severely punished.
That's kinder than my suggestions...
Hang them by their genitals (even the woman) and beat them to death.
My emotion's singing two-part harmony with your emotion, FRiend, except I'd get a rope instead. They aren't worth wasting the powder on.
}:-)4
One of the best arguments for the exsitence of Hell is that there is not enough time and resources in the world to give these scum precisely what they deserve.
"That would be my emotion talking."
I agree with you 100%. Anger is a strong emotion indeed. These people are monsters.
Bless this poor child, and thank God he was rescued.
O....M....G....Monsters!
"Legal Abortion will cut down on child abuse" Pre-Roe Feminist.
I never cease to be shocked by monsters like this. What kind of issues do you have to have to torture a helpless child like this?!!! Who knew and wouldn't have gone directly to the authorities?
Poor child. God heal his wounds--physical, emotional, and spiritual.
They should send them to Gitmo and leave them alone for a while with the prisoners. After having announced on the loudspeaker of course that they are there to perform a test to see how many Korans can fit in a toilet!
When I read this kind of stuff my blood boils. I want to beat these people to death with my bare hands. There is no excuse on God's green earth for this. I am so angry right now I can barely type........................
No, no - that's logic. Emotion is "Oh, we have to help these poor adults so we can understand why they did this." Logic says to kill cockroaches. Emotion says to take care of them.
When I read something like this, it breaks my heart and if I ever won the lottery and had enough money, I would apply for guardianship of these children and raise them the way a human is suppost to be raised with pride and education and love....
What else can be said?
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