Was watching the news on the television in my office this morning and this story was being addressed about 11 mentally impaired children, ages 1-14, that were removed from their adoptive parents in Wakeman, Ohio because these parents confined them at night in 3 1/2 foot tall wooden cages stacked in bedrooms on the second floor.
Authorities have not pressed charges yet, since the children appeared unharmed and not malnourished. Children have been placed with other foster families for the time being.
Has anybody seen this story or read about it? What do you think should be done?
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
-
CountryDweller
- Posts: 1022
- Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:50 pm
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
i think they have been charged, here is the story....Adoption Questions Arise Over Ohio Caged Children...
-
CountryDweller
- Posts: 1022
- Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:50 pm
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
What a shame that these children fell through the cracks and were not checked up on and no one in the neighborhood had a clue what was happening in that household. Am glad to hear they have been charge with something and do pray that they make the charge stick!
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
i just realized i may have been mistaken about charges being filed...i had another child torture case on my mind. 
-
orangesox1
- Posts: 995
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:38 am
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
I saw it briefly on the news last night over here. My first reaction is how did they manage to have so many mentally impaired children in their care? I suppose family services were just happy to have someone take the children.
The neighbours comments and evidence of them appearing to be well cared for may be an indication that the foster parents didn't actually mean any harm to the children but devised a way of keeping them out of trouble and under control at night, I certainly don't agree with keeping children in cages at night, they had too many children to be able to take care of properly. As for the cages, had they put toys and nice blankets, in them to try to make them nice? This would also be an indication of the foster parents intention.
what if there was a fire, was it the intention that the children could be all taken out safely rather that all running around the house in a panic? I still think they shouldn't be in cages, they had too many to care for properly. But I think the Foster parents may not have realised the wrong in what they were doing at night with them. A lot of ??? to be asked.
The neighbours comments and evidence of them appearing to be well cared for may be an indication that the foster parents didn't actually mean any harm to the children but devised a way of keeping them out of trouble and under control at night, I certainly don't agree with keeping children in cages at night, they had too many children to be able to take care of properly. As for the cages, had they put toys and nice blankets, in them to try to make them nice? This would also be an indication of the foster parents intention.
what if there was a fire, was it the intention that the children could be all taken out safely rather that all running around the house in a panic? I still think they shouldn't be in cages, they had too many to care for properly. But I think the Foster parents may not have realised the wrong in what they were doing at night with them. A lot of ??? to be asked.
-
actionfigurestepho
- Posts: 1086
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:32 am
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
Oh man.
That's like an hour from where I live, and let me tell you a little about the area.
You have people with money (hence being able to adopt) but a lot of isolation. Lots of nut jobs in the rural areas that way. I'm glad those kids were found...houses are so far apart and traffic really doesn't come through, hence the neighbors having no idea. I'm so glad they were able to be taken out of there, even if they weren't abused or malnourished. I'm pretty sure they'll charge the parents on SOMETHING. And why would you adopt 11 kids if you couldn't keep them under control at night?
That's like an hour from where I live, and let me tell you a little about the area.
You have people with money (hence being able to adopt) but a lot of isolation. Lots of nut jobs in the rural areas that way. I'm glad those kids were found...houses are so far apart and traffic really doesn't come through, hence the neighbors having no idea. I'm so glad they were able to be taken out of there, even if they weren't abused or malnourished. I'm pretty sure they'll charge the parents on SOMETHING. And why would you adopt 11 kids if you couldn't keep them under control at night?
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
No charges have been filed yet. These are humans beings we are talking about. They are not animals that you can just stick in a cage. I hope the state agencies involved are investigated. The fire hazzard was my first thought. If there were a fire, they'd waste valuable time unlocking cages and moving furniture out of the way. These children had no blankets or pillows. There is no way anyone can justify this to me. :-5
-
actionfigurestepho
- Posts: 1086
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:32 am
Children kept in cages-Wakeman, OH
I heard a little bit more information about this on the radio. Keep in mind there have been some conflicting versions of this, but the new version is that they weren't technically in "cages" per ce, they were more like those room dividers thingeys used to make little cubicles with alarms on the doors...if a child left the alarm would go off. But supposedly there were no locks on the doors, the kids were technically able to leave any time they chose. I'm interested to see if this is actually a true version of the story, because if it is the story's sounding less abusive all the time. It's still a little weird, but I guess if I had 11 kids and only 3 bedrooms I'd do something to give them some privacy too. Especially if they fought.