Lifestyle

TOPICS:

9/14/05

Previous

PAGE: 

1 ... 

286 | 287 | 288

 ... 944

Next

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2

Next

Trucker_Fiction

Trucker_Fiction

Normal, IL
December 2003

SEP 13, 2005 02:53 PM

Over the years, in the town of Wakeman, Ohio, Sharen and Mike Gravelle have adopted and placed into their foster care 11 children whom range in age from 1 to 14. The children suffer from a variety of handicaps and disabilities, including Autism.

Now, the Gravelles have been arrested after DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) found out that they had been keeping their foster children in cages no larger than a medium sized dog crate.

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.


No trial, no jury. Just a straight shot to the head. You're going to treat your foster children like dogs then you're going to be shot like a mad one.

kucera

kucera

Beaverton, OR
September 2005

SEP 13, 2005 02:59 PM

Not cool. Friend of mine has a son in foster care (long story) and from what I hear, he's doped up on ritalin all the time and does nothing but play video games all day. I think that's just one step above this. They're just after the government money.

No better than human slavery.

Niobe

Niobe

I'm lost
April 2003

SEP 13, 2005 03:03 PM

Man, that is just sad. So heartbreaking! frown

Graven

Graven

Reading, MN
March 2003

SEP 13, 2005 03:09 PM

This is terrible on so many levels. I don't get the power trip these people get from controlling their children in such a way.

However...

VanGogh said:
Not cool. Friend of mine has a son in foster care (long story) and from what I hear, he's doped up on ritalin all the time and does nothing but play video games all day.



That's my life, too, though and I'm 26.

Domnicella

Domnicella

Flushing, NY
March 2004

SEP 13, 2005 03:15 PM

Family services just found out about the children being kept in cages?!
They should be also held accountable for not being consistent with their, Im assuming monthly visitations and neglect, if thats the case.

bakeryman

bakeryman

Richardson, TX
July 2004

SEP 13, 2005 03:16 PM

This is just F-ed up. They should throw the book at these people. They should never have kids in their care ever again.

kucera

kucera

Beaverton, OR
September 2005

SEP 13, 2005 03:23 PM

MeloTraumatic said:
This is terrible on so many levels. I don't get the power trip these people get from controlling their children in such a way.

However...

VanGogh said:
Not cool. Friend of mine has a son in foster care (long story) and from what I hear, he's doped up on ritalin all the time and does nothing but play video games all day.



That's my life, too, though and I'm 26.



It's a matter of choice I guess... an 8 year old doesn't have that freedom. If you're an adult and choose to be doped up all day and play video games... sad... but your choice.

feminista

feminista

Calgary, AB
January 2005

SEP 13, 2005 03:29 PM

This seems to be happening more and more lately, like that family a while ago that kept several children well and starved others.
Definately a shot to the head, but only after a couple of years being kept in a cage. Disgusting wastes of human lives. Waste of air. Now I'm pissed.

alpha_hazard

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO
April 2004

SEP 13, 2005 03:38 PM

there are some fucked up people who try to "care" for children...I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't able to buy a gun, but were able to be foster parents.

Moonrabbit

Moonrabbit

Vancouver, BC
February 2005

SEP 13, 2005 03:45 PM

I've heard too many stories like this one.
Kinda makes you wanna become some kinda crazed vigilante.

Prasong007

Prasong007

Durham, NC
February 2005

SEP 13, 2005 03:48 PM

I'm one for due process of law I think the foster "parents" should get a nice fair trial, then get hung from the neck until dead, the fucking bastards

Prasong007

Prasong007

Durham, NC
February 2005

SEP 13, 2005 03:48 PM

(removed double post)

[Edited on Sep 13, 2005 6:49PM]

MstrssWitchbaby

MstrssWitchbaby

Boston, MA
August 2005

SEP 13, 2005 04:02 PM

yea and isnt foster care supposed to help children? the whole system needs to change.

Lior

Lior

United Kingdom
August 2005

SEP 13, 2005 04:07 PM

This is revolting.
Those 'parents' need to be shot.

podsix

podsix

USA
June 2003

SEP 13, 2005 04:27 PM

PRockGirlScout said:
surreal

Stories like this give foster care a bad name. So many foster parents are caring, wonderful, selfless people who are not in it for the money. Those ones don't make the news too often.

Family services just found out about the children being kept in cages?!
They should be also held accountable for not being consistent with their, Im assuming monthly visitations and neglect, if thats the case.



Unfortunately most family service agencies across this country are understaffed. They absolutely cannot adequately monitor all the cases that need to be on a consistent enough basis. This same story is told over and over and over. frown



The foster care system is run very badly throughout the country, so it sometimes does lead to terrible results like what happened in this story. One of the problems is that there are many more orphaned children than there are people willing to open up their homes. You can't really blame people, its just the way it goes. But children's services really drops the ball by giving the kids to people who are clearly bad news. Unfortunately, the people usually look pretty good on paper and the caseworkers aren't really allowed to act on a 'hunch' that something bad might happen. The caseworkers usually also have enormous caseloads, and are just not able to fully investigate every child. The agency is usually just happy to place as many kids as possible outside of a state-run facility. I've seen first-hand a situation were foster children were being terribly abused on a continuing basis, and there was just no way for the caseworker to pick up on it. Anyway, all that to say I agree with PRockGirlScout- Most foster parents are good people- the system usually works- but when it goes bad, it goes real bad.

angryann

angryann

HOPEFUL

Carrollton, OH

SEP 13, 2005 04:32 PM

there should be soe kind of monitoring system, cameras or something. People do that when they have baby sitters. I think it's a good idea. But this whole not taking care of your kids deal makes the honest nice people look bad. sucks.

Rivers85

Rivers85

Ireland
June 2005

SEP 13, 2005 04:36 PM

Aww, memories of my own childhood...

User29A

User29A

Canada
September 2002

SEP 13, 2005 04:36 PM

Moonrabbit said:
I've heard too many stories like this one.
Kinda makes you wanna become some kinda crazed vigilante.



How about becoming a caring foster parent?

Lacks the comic book charm of "crazed vigilante", but would be actually useful.

Ragdoll

Ragdoll

SUICIDEGIRL

United Kingdom

SEP 13, 2005 04:43 PM

So seriously wrong on so so many levels. frown

Minceir

Minceir

I'm lost
September 2011

SEP 13, 2005 04:49 PM

No way to treat a child, should lock up the so-called carers with a bunch of lifers and see how they like it. mad mad

One_Pure_Thought

One_Pure_Thought

East Greenwich, RI
October 2003

SEP 13, 2005 05:09 PM

1. I hope they get beaten within an inch of their life, get better, and then get beaten to death in prison.


2. Whoever let them have ELEVEN children should be banned from social services for life.

Helly

Helly

Australia
December 2004

SEP 13, 2005 05:21 PM

This disgusts me mad

photoline

photoline

Edmonton, AB
January 2005

SEP 13, 2005 05:44 PM

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.



The story was shocking enough already. Sounds like a case of abuse being passed from generation to generation.

Reducing humans to the role of pets -- mentally and physically -- is as evil as slavery.

I don't know how tough Ohio's justice system is, but I hope this couple (family?) is left without the means to repeat this horrible crime.

[Edited on Sep 13, 2005 6:46PM]

Trucker_Fiction

Trucker_Fiction

Normal, IL
December 2003

SEP 13, 2005 06:31 PM

One_Pure_Thought said:
1. I hope they get beaten within an inch of their life, get better, and then get beaten to death in prison.



hahah.... very true

katblue

katblue

Canada
January 2005

SEP 13, 2005 07:36 PM

I can't believe they are going to get away with that. Such total and complete crap. Those poor, poor children.

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2

Next