Fla. Woman Admits Chaining Kids To Beds

Local6.com. ^ | 4.20.03 | Local6.com.

[freepatriot32]

POLK COUNTY, Fla. -- A 35-year-old Polk County woman admits she chained her sons to their beds at night to keep them out of trouble, according to a Local 6 News report.

Karen Abe, 35, said her sons would break into and steal cars while she was at work so she tethered her 13- and 15-year-old sons to their beds with heavy chains and padlocks.

Even though her ex-husband was reportedly inside the home at night, the boys were chained from 9:30 p.m. until 6 a.m.

"When I left, I just put them on the chain," Karen Abe said. "They just laid down and said 'mom we understand.'" "I told them before I put them on the chain, 'get what you need.'"

Abe said nothing but the chain seemed to work after she was arrested.

'I just got caught up in the madness of trying to control them," Abe said.

Abe and her ex-husband are charged with aggravated child abuse.

The two teenagers and a 6-year-old brother were taken into custody by Department of Children & Families.

[freepatriot32]

there is a video interview of her from the tv news here

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I saw the interview and felt sorry for the woman. Her ex didn't seem to help and she was trying to do what was best for her boys. Unfortuantely, she did not use the recommended Dr. Spock methods.

[Az Joe]

I do this with my girlfriend. She likes it. Is that wrong?

[Revolting cat!]

Sheesh, I thought everybody did that!

[dead]

That's the sound of the kids sleeping on the chain ga-a-ang.

[Humidston]

Hey, we used to know a woman who was a professional babysitter and she told me about some teenagers she watched. Said the ONLY way she could keep them from escaping at night was to sit in the hallway and STARE at them - ALL night long!

This mom sounds inventive. I give her a Two Thumbs UP!

[Post Toasties]

Well, I can see the outside justification for her action, unlike the lesbians that kept their sons in a closet for no reason. Stupid kids, though.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Isn't this bullshit? The mom is trying to keep her brats out of trouble, but here comes social services to "rescue them". Serves them right if the little devils burn down their group home....

[madprof98]

According to the TV report, the woman only got into trouble after one of the boys took the matter up with his probation officer. Sounds like the real problem in this family was not the chains and padlocks.

[LiteKeeper]

Not sure I see the problem here. Works for me!

[TaxRelief]

OK. Kids break law. Mom imposes "night jail". Sounds good.

[TaxRelief]

But what about the 6-yr-old? Should he pay for the sins of the brothers?

[LaineyDee]

Give them a couple years and they'll be sleeping and living in a 4X6 room with bars. That'll be more humane, eh? *chuckle*

[myprecious]

Another mom and I were chatting about how to survive the teen years. Her 15 year old daughter snuck a boy into her room one night through the window and shut the bedroom door to hide him. Mom found out and removed the door from the hinges. For the next 3 years, she had no privacy. Mom went with her to the skating rink, sat several rows back at the football game. The girl graduated with honors and went on to college.

[Humidston]

Your friend sounds like my kind of Mommy Dearest, LOL!! I was known to do the same. I constantly checked on my own, never fully trusted their friends, watched them like a hawk.

Once, I even called the parents of my son's girlfriend because a group of the kids were going to a very late night concert at Astroworld. Come to find out, the mom and I cancelled the deal, and she was delighted to hear from me, LOL!

Happy to report mine are all grown and parents now. And they're GREAT!! But if they'd been stealing cars I'd have chained them too.... or worse!

[Frank_2001]

And if the kids had been shot while trying to steal a car, Mom would be charged with what...child neglect?

[lawdude]

"Unfortuantely, she did not use the recommended Dr. Spock methods."

Talk about the ultimate fraud!?

Spock was a crackpot.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I agree. My purpose for using Spock as the example was that is what the folks who took her kids would be using and believing. It was for comparison purposes.

[Humidston]

Re: Spock. For purposes of clarity, did you guys know Dr. Spock's son reported that his dad NEVER EVER KISSED HIM or showed affection when he was a child?

What a pig!

[Mind-numbed Robot]

What a pig!

The son? Just kidding.