NEWS: Fucked Up Parents Arrested for Locking 11 Kids in Cages

CULTURE: Fucked Up Parents Arrested for Locking 11 Kids in Cages

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.

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.

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.

Man, that is just sad. So heartbreaking!

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...

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

(removed double post)

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

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

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

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.

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.

Aww, memories of my own childhood...

How about becoming a caring foster parent?

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

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

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.

This disgusts me

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]

hahah.... very true

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