Thursday, September 20, 2007

Pennsylvania Caregivers of 7 Held in Home Charged

Here's another case of wingnut "Christians" I suppose reflecting Christ's love. ABC News has the story here: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3627011 What is amazing is that social services or some governmental agency was not monitoring this couple who were receiving $9,000 per month for caring for the individuals they victimized. Here are a few highlights:


Five children and two disabled women were locked in a basement cell, fed meager food and rarely allowed to bathe, by a couple facing criminal charges over their care, authorities said. The couple were paid $9,000 a month to care for the seven. The unlit 4-foot-by-5-foot cinderblock cell was called the "toy room," according to a police affidavit.


The Dickinsons' house rules kept the seven from the basement refrigerator without permission, required them to drink water from the sink, limited radio and television to Christian stations, banned going outside without permission and punished noisemaking with spankings using a spatula or wooden paddle, police said. In general, they were not allowed upstairs.


Breakfast for the seven consisted of peanut butter sandwiches and dinner was a crock pot meal prepared by Stephanie Dickinson, including a dish known as "doggie dew stew," police said. Only two of the victims were allowed to shower about once every week or two. The others would wash or be washed in the basement sink. Two older boys took care of everyone when they were not in school, according to police. During the day, one of the women was in charge.

The seven victims had unsupervised access to prescription medications and rat poison, and one of the older children was forced to empty the basement's portable toilet daily by hauling a bucket upstairs, according to the affidavit.


Besides locking these two up, it would appears some heads need to roll in the supervising agencies.

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