Child Abuse

[EvilEve]

WAKEMAN, Ohio - Sheriff’s deputies found 11 children locked in cages less than 3½ feet high inside a home, but a couple denied they had abused or neglected the children.

A judge on Monday put the children — who range in age from 1 to 14 and who have various disabilities, including autism — in foster homes.

The children were found in nine cages built into the walls of the house near this small city in northern Ohio, according to the Huron County Sheriff’s Office. They had no blankets or pillows, and the cages were rigged with alarms that sounded if opened, Lt. Randy Sommers said.

The children told authorities they slept in the cages — 40 inches high and 40 inches deep — at night. Doors to some of the cages were blocked with heavy furniture.

Sharen and Mike Gravelle are adoptive or foster parents for all 11 children, officials said. Prosecutors were reviewing the case, but no charges had been filed as of Monday night.

A children’s services investigator saw one of the children in a cage Friday, Sommers said. The sheriff’s office obtained a warrant and returned to the house that evening and removed the children.

The Gravelles do not have a listed telephone number.

A woman who identified herself as Sharen Gravelle’s mother but would not give her name said the children were happy in their new home.

“This year they have played and had fun and laughed like no other children have, which they have never been able to do,” she said.

At a hearing, the judge placed the children in the custody of the Department of Job and Family Services, and officials placed them in four foster homes, said county Juvenile Court Administrator Chris Mushett.

Appearing with a lawyer at the hearing, the Gravelles denied they had abused or neglected the children.

County Prosecutor Russell Leffler said the Gravelles claimed a psychiatrist recommended they place the children in cages.

The couple were reserved when deputies arrived at the house to remove the children, Sommers said.

“The impression that we got was that they felt it was OK,” he said.

Investigators believe nine of the children slept in the cages that were stacked two-high on the house’s second story. Two mattresses on a bedroom floor also showed signs of recent use, Sommers said.

One of the boys said he’d slept in the cage for three years, Sommers said.

.... what the fuck?!?!!

[Mizstomp]

Omg That's horrible.

I love children, I just can't believe people sometimes.

I just hope they don't harbor that shit for the rest of their lives.

[EvilEve]

it's this kind of stuff that makes me want to hurt people in the worst way possible. *mutters to herself about how people who abuse children/people/animals should be brutally beaten!*

[Mizstomp]

let's attack.

[Marblez]

Well, look how many children that grow up in the foster system end up in prison...consider it preparation! Yeah!

[The_Dark]

Marblez!!! How evil of you to vocalize that.

[Shade Everdark]

It is certainly a damaging thing, psychologically and I'm sure physically, to be confined in the cages of the description. Children should not be subject to that.

The focus of my interest, however, lies with the family. How is it that they felt this was acceptable behavior? How could they have considered this a proper way to raise children? I'd also be interested in finding out whether these youngsters were mistreated in other ways.

[Marblez]

Yes it is, isn't it? :evil

Of course you know that I am not at all serious.

[Marblez]

All I could think was that it sounds to me like a dog kennel.

[EvilEve]

children kennel? ... i don't see that working any time in the near future.

personally, i think that these "parents" in particular were in desperate need of some kind of disapline for their children, and that they themselves are not quite right in the head. not understanding the consiquences(sp?) of their actions.

[Aralis]

That is soo fucked up. I can't even imagine how these people thought that was acceptable to do. People like that should not be foster parents. Don't they screen these people? Don't they conduct pyschological tests or something?

[Brenda Starrr]

It's just so messed up. I can't even form words for the disgust that I feel.

[saechalyn]

That's really upsetting. I feel icky now.

[Mizstomp]

I was raised in a hostile enviroment after my parents got a divorce, none on my dad's side, he was an Angel. But after being subjected to child abuse, I feel for them as well.

It makes me an angry person sometimes, over the smallest things.

[bean]

Unfortunately this goes on way too much in this country. It is also unfortunate that more isn't being done to help children who are being abused. I have to go to court tomorrow concerning the abuse of one of my clients. I can't say too much because of confidentiality, but I will say that it has been an issue in the home for a long time, and it took something serious for CPS to open their eyes and realize something should have been done sooner. Every month in my reports there were things stated about what was going on the home that should have raised red flags, but apparently it wasn't enough.

[Kit Kat P]

honestly the more horror stories that I read or see like this makes me want to be a foster parent even more becuase i want to give them that one good home out of 30

[EvilEve]

things like this make me even more leary of people. all that "sugar coating" will get sour soon enough. =( things like this also make me want to understand their "logical thinking" if it even exsisted.

[Lilith]

the one boy stated that he had be sleeping in the cage for 2-3 years, why hadnt the Dept OF social services been doing home study checks? Hell my daughter was in POHI a class for diabled children funded by the county and those teachers did home checks every year of each and every student, if for nothing more then to get more of a feel for the childs home life so they could udnerstand them better at school but i am sure they also took a good look arund to see if anything was "out of order".

I wish they would have told the "psycologist" name who said this was a good idea, cause i know that one guy who i dotn want to ever see.

i am glad finally some one found the kids and they are hopeully enjoying good night sleep in a comfy bed with a matress and a pillow and blankies.

[Homicidalheathen]

More wierdo's from Ohio.....I am starting to think there is something in the water.....

Isn't it hard to get a foster child? Don't they send people out to your house to check on you first.....once in a while......something?

WTF???? How did they get approved for so many kids????

[EvilEve]

ohio's water is very dirty... wouldn't be suprised if it WAS something in the water. personally, i haven't the slightest idea how they could foster so many kids, and not have been found out sooner.

[kellygrrrrrl]

Man, things are just going crazy everywhere.

The more news I read, the more discusted I am daily.

I cannot believe this. What the hell are people thinking? Why?

Those children are going to be tainted for the rest of thier lives. To a degree most of us will never understand. To a degree that not even therapists or medications can help, I'm sure. And to think that there are actually things much worse going on.

Anyone Read : A child called IT?

This book really opened my eyes to child abuse and how bad it can get.

[Nerdcore]

this couple shouldbe put in cages and left in the desert to rot and die.. I cannot stand stories like this.. I hope these kids get the mental and emotinal love and help they need.. they wil lneed it.. :erm

[Msterbeau]

It is certainly a damaging thing, psychologically and I'm sure physically, to be confined in the cages of the description.  Children should not be subject to that.

The focus of my interest, however, lies with the family.  How is it that they felt this was acceptable behavior?  How could they have considered this a proper way to raise children?  I'd also be interested in finding out whether these youngsters were mistreated in other ways.

As a parent... this makes me so sad. If they can't manage 14 kids whether it's because they all have disabilities, or whatever... Guess what?? Don't take in 14 kids!!! Sadder still is the fact that there are so many foster kids out there. Locking them up is just wrong.

The whole discussion of how the parents could think that they weren't abusing the kids is going to revolve around nature vs nurture. Personally I think they both matter. Genetics certainly plays a part in behavioral issues... (I can see that in my own children) ... as does environment. I can't speak to these people's genetic make up but I'm guessing that they've experienced some level of abuse in their childhood.

[The Void]

how in the fuck these people got to foster kids and disabled ones at that is a motherfucking miracle. They probably just wanted the moeny you get paid when you foster a kid.

Nine of them??? geezuz. Maybe Ohio should have a better psych test and not just a background check and stupid questionairre, if they even bother at all. dumb fucks.

[EvilEve]

damnitall. it was vaugely talked about on the radio today. i guess kids being locked up isn't that big of a deal. granted, the situation was already taken care of, but who's to say that it won't happen again?