Guest Cerebus Report post Posted March 10, 2005 Link he 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. 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. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2005 Why does it seem most of these stories either come from Florida or Arizona?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2005 I just love how when asking a family member what they think, the family member says that the media must be lying...hello, the kids were found in deplorable condition! What? Did they just do this by accident? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NYU 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2005 Why bother setting bail at $200,003? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2005 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. Hmmm ... was the kid found incredibly malnourished and locked in a cage? There goes the "blatantly wrong accusations" defense. And ... was the kid found incredibly malnourished and locked in a cage? There goes the "they truly are not" monsters defense. Let the punishment fit the crime, eye for an eye says I ... lock the parents in a cage wearing only a diaper until they're painfully thin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites