South Florida Dads

In Kokomo, Indiana, Mary Deakyne, 4, and her cousin, Justin Leonard, 4, were abused daily by their mothers, who are sisters. They youngsters were bound and kept in a closet for weeks at a time. They were also bound with zip ties to door knobs and other household items to restrict their movements.

The childrn are being treated at a hospital for their injuries. Mary has several broken bones in her hands and arms in various stages of healing. Her cousin has bruises and cuts. Water and food were kept from the children for long periods of time. And a neighbor said she had never seen the children, which meant they probably never left the house.

The children’s mothers, Jennifer Leonard, 36, and Melissa Chandler, 30, face charges of neglect and aiding, inducing or causing battery. The other adults in the home are also charged. Madeline Hawk, 42, faced charges of neglect and battery, and her husband, Donald Hawk, 33, was charged with neglect.

The children’s fathers do not live with them, but little Mary’s dad does keep in touch.

All four adults are being held without bond pending initial court appearances.

I’m just hoping that with good support and lots of therapy, these children can have a normal life. As far as the adults go, lock ‘em up and throw away the key.

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In Foothills, Arizona, Trina Rae Carroll was arrested for child abuse, child endangerment, and involving a minor in drug abuse. Methamphetamine was found in the system of her two-year-old son. The charges are considered felonies and Carrol has two priors.

She’s currently in jail with her bond set at $11,105

Carroll took the toddler to hospital  when he began crying uncontrollably and complaining of stomach pain. That’s when hospital staff found methamphetamine in the child’s system. The hospital contacted police, who referred the case to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office investigated and arrested Carroll.

Carroll admitted to using methamphetamines and opiates in front of her child. The boy has received medical attention and is in the temporary custody of his grandmother.

My gut feeling is that Caroll is probably a decent mother with a very serious drug problem. After all, she did go to the hospital when her son got sick. I just hope that her arrest will help her seek treatment so she can get her son back.

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In Grand Junction, Colorado, John Wilson, 40, and Kristie Moore, 35, were charged with felony child abuse for handcuffing Wilson’s 15-year-old son to a rail in the living room. They also whipped the teenager with a belt and denying him food and bathroom breaks. Moore is Wilson’s live-in girlfriend and police consider her the boy’s stepmother.

The couple were arrested on charges of felony child abuse, complicity, sexual abuse of a child by a person in a position of trust and false imprisonment. All of these charges are felonies and they are both being held without bond.

They would also beat the boy with a black belt the couple kept in the kitchen. Above the belt on a hook the couple kept the keys to the handcuffs. On time, Wilson kicked his handcuffed son in his groin. He would also make the teen do jumping jacks and stair stepping for hours to burn off his energy and anger.

Moore’s 16-year-old daughter was also abused. She told police she had been struck with the same black belt. She was grounded for a year and forced to sit at the kitchen table from the time she returned from school until she went to bed at night for stealing food. Also, she was not allowed outside or to have contact with friends.

Records show that family members reported the couple to the Denver Department of Human Services. Since the family moved nothing was done. The teens were removed from the house in July 2006. But records don’t show what happened after that.

In fact, there’s a huge gap and a delay in follow up and arrest. Two more kids who have fallen through the cracks. How sad.

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