Florida couple accused of torturing children

[Cass]

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.

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

[Peg]

I hope they find this couple and put them through the years of torture these children had to endure.

[polycarp]

What a horriffic story. I hope that this wicked pair will be apprehended and brought to book. I really find it hard to understand what is happenning to we human beings. We seem to be losing our sense of love for one another. May God deliver us.

[lady cop]

we have current BOLO and APB for these monsters, they may be towing a trailer, and they may be heading for Tenn. we'll get them. there aren't that many roads to get out of florida. it's go north or you're trapped.

[Cass]

Originally Posted by lady cop

we have current BOLO and APB for these monsters, they may be towing a trailer, and they may be heading for Tenn. we'll get them.

BOLO = be on look out?

[Tombstone]

Incredibly horrific!

And it was asked in another thread: "Do you believe in the devil?"

Yes, here is a perfect example. He's walking among us.

[BabyRider]

Here's a question...How in HELL did these "people" become legal guardians of these kids???

This is horrible.. I just emailed it to everyone that i know. Just to get the word out. Maybe we can all pull together and find the sick people!

[Cass]

Captured!!!

The got the ba$tards!

stand by for more details

[valerie]

They were arrested in Utah of all places.

(This is mainly a BUMP!!)

(To law enforcement!!)