Johnny Hanson/AP
Posted on 02/22/2012 7:53:34 AM PST by null and void
One month later, authorities are still trying to find out how the children were there
Johnny Hanson/AP
Child Protective Services removed 11 children from this home in Dayton, Texas last month.
DAYTON, Texas — Texas authorities said Tuesday they removed 11 children from a crowded home where a registered sex offender lives after they found eight confined in a small, dark bedroom with restraints tying some to their beds.
Along with the children, 10 adults were living in the one-story, 1,700-square-foot home in Dayton, about 30 miles northeast of Houston, Child Protective Services spokeswoman Gwen Carter said. One month after a raid on the house, authorities are still trying to determine how the children are related and why they were there, she said.
The children ranged in age from 5 months to 11 years. Three who were age 5 or older had not been enrolled in school, Carter said.
The children were removed after authorities found two 2-year-old children tied to a bed during a January visit to the home, according to a court document.
A legally blind, 5-year-old girl "was in a restraint on a filthy mattress, and appeared to be in a daze," the document said. One child had a black eye and knocked-out tooth.
The adults told investigators they tied the children when they slept or took a nap during the day "for safety," the document said. An investigator noted that none of the adults said they saw anything wrong with the arrangement.
Two of the children had what authorities feared was pneumonia and were taken to a children's hospital. All have since been placed in foster homes, Carter said.
The case is still under investigation, and Dayton Police Sgt. Doug O'Quinn said officials are looking into criminal charges. Liberty County District Attorney Mike Little said his office would present a case to a grand jury next month, but he declined to discuss possible suspects or charges.
"Our primary concern was to make sure that the children were stable and safe," Carter said.
Three unidentified women leave the home after cops discovered the restrained children. (Pat Sullivan/AP)
The home with a "No Trespassing" sign out front is in a subdivision near land used for farming and ranching. A tricycle and other toys were in the backyard Tuesday, and several cars were parked outside.
People leaving the home declined to talk to media assembled outside, and other residents and their relatives declined to comment or didn't respond to phone messages.
One person in Texas' online sex offender registry listed the house as his address. Mark E. Marsh III was convicted in Michigan 15 years ago of criminal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl. He did not have a working phone number listed.
Neighbor Wayne Hardin said he never saw the youngest children and had no idea so many people were living in the house. Though he often saw eight or more cars parked outside, Hardin said he was told the residents had a big family.
"I was shocked," said Hardin, who had called police about loud music blaring from the house. "We didn't have a clue."
Along with the children, two teenage runaways with a stolen car were at the home, authorities said. The boys, both 16, admitted running away from foster homes, smoking marijuana and driving a car they knew was stolen, authorities said.
Carter said the home was not registered as a foster home or day care.
It’s stories like these that make me lose faith in humanity.
The children will never have the life they should have had.
The leftist “ideal family.”
Betcha there's lots of "aid" going in to this place..food stamps, ADC, etc.
I hope the children can recover fro this horrible experience.
just bump
WHAT THE HELL!
What has happened to us that something like this is taking place? Dear God, Please hurry, we need to thin the herd.
... may the adults receive counseling in health, information re: legal laws of not having multiple families in one house; and they do bear the weight of their crimes. Abuse and Harm, to the eleven children, harboring two teen age run away boys that stole a car ... 23 people living in the house had to be on top of each other, literally.
,,, looks like a small trailer and a possible garage apartment or storage area over the garage.
Sounds like a bunch of druggies with an “open marriage” and a “share the expenses” arrangement. Not even bothering to be hippies, from the looks of them in that photo.
Evil. Pure evil. I notice one of the perps is pregnant. I pray they take the child from her before she does harm to it.
The only thing that shocks me anymore is the fact that God hasn’t taken His fist and knocked us into oblivion. I thank Him for His love and mercy.
Now, I ask anyone: The pregnant one.....why do they wear that type of clothing, it is gross. I do not want to see that big belly showing ANYTIME, EVER, it is disgusting. They seem so proud of being knocked up.
Yet, when not pregnant they will wear the maternity tops which are the style now (fits under the bust and flows out) I don't get it.
I once saw a young girl in a store wearing this princess style blouse, I asked her if she was pregnant, she said No, I asked her why she was wearing a maternity top. She gave me a dirty look, hahahahaha DO I care??? nah!
Satan? Who believes in that anymore?
I’m certain Satan exists. God? Not so much.
*sigh*
I do not want to see that big belly showing ANYTIME, EVER, it is disgusting. They seem so proud of being knocked up. /
It is tacky. They have no modesty and don’t even know what it means. Worse yet they have no respect for themselves or the gift they are carrying. This very story proves that.
We are dealing with the MTV and Twilight crowd. Whatever the celebrity does they will emulate. Back in the day kids wanted to be individual. Now, all they are is immoral, immodest entitlement liberal sheeple. Worse yet, this is what we are leaving this beautiful country to. That breaks my heart.
I hope the Lord comes soon. His will be done in all things.
Sick!
There is just so much wrong with this.
1.) End public “assistance” now. People who cannot provide for themselves should go on private charity.
2.) Everything else aside, what was the septic system like? The septic system for a 1700 square foot house is sized for about four people.
So true... I think people would be shocked and amazed if they heard some of the stories foster children from say 30-40 or so years ago have to tell. Like you said, it used to be that a community hid this kind of thing - the internet and the ability for information to travel so quickly has made that a relic of a bygone era (probably a good thing).
Regardless, I don’t think there’s been a uptick in this type of situation (the abuse and neglect) - it’s always been happening... I will say that living arrangements with more than one family WILL start happening more and more with the economy the way it is - just that the majority of those families won’t be moving in with a pedophile, or allowing their children to be neglected and abused!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.