News & Politics - Children Tortured to Look like Auschwitz

Lain · 02-04-2005, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Couple accused of torturing children
Allegedly pulled out kids' toenails, beat them with hammers

(CNN) -- A manhunt has been launched in Florida for a couple accused of torturing five of seven children in their home, including pulling out their toenails with pliers and keeping them so malnourished that they "looked like pictures from Auschwitz," authorities said Thursday.

Citrus County Sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney said an arrest warrant was issued for John Dollar, 58, and his wife, Linda, 51 -- each of whom face one count of "aggravated child abuse/torture" for all five children.

The Dollars were the legal guardians of all seven children, although they were not their biological parents, Tierney said. She said the other two children were said to be "favorites" of the Dollars, and were spared their alleged abuse.

The case came to authorities' attention two weeks ago, when a 16-year-old was transported from the family home in Beverly Hills, Florida, to a local hospital. The boy was bleeding from a laceration on his head and there were red marks on his neck. He weighed just 59 pounds, Tierney said.

"That was just the start of the alarming parts of this case," she told CNN in a telephone interview.

Authorities went to the home and interviewed the rest of the children, including two twin 14-year-old boys who were so malnourished they weighed a mere 36 and 38 pounds -- the weight of a typical 4-year-old.

"To look at the photos I saw, it was just extremely unnerving," Tierney said. "They looked like pictures from Auschwitz."

The Dollars are accused of forcing the five children -- who ranged in age from 12 to 16 -- to sleep in a closet in the master bedroom with a "wind chime affixed to the door so that the Dollars would know if they tried to get out of the closet," Tierney said.

In addition, they are accused of using a cattle prod or some sort of stun gun to shock the children, bonding them to certain spots in the house with chains, striking their feet with hammers and pulling the children's toenails out with pliers.

"There was evidence of damage or missing toenails of these children," Tierney said.

She said it also appeared as if the Dollars tried to keep them inside the home as much as possible, and each child was home-schooled.

In the incident two weeks ago, on Jan. 21, Linda Dollar was out shopping when the 16-year-old boy was injured. John Dollar was home.

Tierney said investigators believe the husband grabbed the boy by his neck, raising him off his feet and then dropping him. The boy struck his head on a fireplace, causing the laceration to his head -- information that has been corroborated by the other children in the home, she said.

All seven children were removed from the home last Thursday and placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families. The Dollars were to appear in court for a DCF hearing Monday. They never showed up.

Authorities believe they may be traveling in a 1996 black-and-gold Provost Marathon motor home with Florida tag number U06YAC. The couple may also be towing a 2000 gold-colored, 4-door Lexus with Florida tag number DH41D.

Authorities say anyone who sees the vehicle or vehicles should call 352-726-1121.

The couple moved to their Beverly Hills home last August from Hillsborough County, near Tampa. Before that, they lived in Tennessee with the seven children.

The children who were allegedly abused are a 16-year old boy; two twin 14-year-old boys; a 13-year-old girl; and a 12-year-old girl. The two who were not harmed were a 17-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy.

There is no evidence of sexual abuse, Tierney said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/03/fam...ure/index.html

It goes to show you how sad our society is today. I've heard of Child Abuse, I read the story "A Child Called It", and I've seen it in movies, TV, and the news. But really, I was horrifyed in hearing how they tortured these poor kids.

Sir Fireboard · 02-04-2005, 02:27 AM

Holy hell! What is wrong with people

That's just horrible

*Ledi* · 02-04-2005, 06:40 AM

I read this last night and I feel so disgusted. I can't believe some people.

I feel so bad for those kids though.

-Kelly- · 02-04-2005, 07:09 AM

Poor kids

mh67511 · 02-04-2005, 07:22 AM

God it's just horrible! What in the world can possibly posess someone to do that? Do they just have no conscience?

Those kids iwll be scared for life by those selfish, sick bastards.

86amanda86 · 02-04-2005, 10:21 AM

I know, hey should rot in prison for the rest of their miserable lives.

BTW mh - your avi makes me laugh, hard.

roswellain_chick16 · 02-04-2005, 03:56 PM

Wow - Ok now that is just toooo sick!

Poor kids, this is going to affect them for the rest of their lives.

Put the couple in jail and throw away the key -death penalty even

Eddy · 02-04-2005, 04:43 PM

I just saw this on MSNBC. I hope they catch them.

**TheAngel** · 02-04-2005, 04:57 PM

I really hope they catch those people. That is disgusting and I can't believe that they did that to those kids. I truly hope these people fry for this.

Cantbehrit · 02-04-2005, 07:00 PM

They were caught in Utah.......thank God.

Cantbehrit

roswellain_chick16 · 02-04-2005, 08:56 PM

Im glad they caught them, the idea of those sick (coz surely they would have to be) people out there is just frightening

Hot Like Fire · 02-04-2005, 09:04 PM

Those people are sick thank God they were caught.

Those poor kids

bluskadu · 02-04-2005, 11:01 PM

Some parents that abuse their children dont think they are doing anything wrong and they can treat their children as they want. Its so Disgusting how some people treat others.
Im glad they were caught.

SuGarPlum_Fairy · 02-04-2005, 11:35 PM

That is so horrible, how can they do something like that,

I hope they get the death penalty.

MalloryKeaton · 02-06-2005, 11:07 PM

That's awful.
So is this:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/nat...t_starved.html

Mother Charged With Starving Her Three Kids To Death

By The Associated Press
(02/06/05 - HUNTSVILLE, AL) — The mother of three children found dead in a Huntsville apartment has confessed to starving her children, police said Saturday.
Nathshay Yvonne Ward, 33, was charged with capital murder Friday in connection with the deaths of her son and two daughters. She was being held without bail. Officers found the bodies of Shanieka Y. Ward, 11; Latricia Ward, 9; and Christopher O. Ward, 8, on the floor in three bedrooms Friday, police spokesman Wendell Johnson said. Officials said the children had been dead for at least several days.

Investigators would not elaborate on the details of Ward's confession. When the children were found, "they did appear malnourished," Johnson said. Johnson said relatives told police they had been trying to visit the family for weeks but Ward would not open the door. Officials said utilities in the apartment had been turned off since Jan. 12, and managers of the apartment complex had been preparing to evict the family.

Johnson said the children had not attended school since the holiday break. Workers with the Alabama Department of Human Resources had tried to visit the apartment in December but Ward refused to let them in, he said. Ward was single and "took care of her kids," said Leetha McCaulley, who managed the apartment complex until October. After her car broke down last year, Ward "used to walk the kids to school every day," McCaulley said. "It was just her and those kids," she said. "She was quiet. Paid her rent on time."

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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