The nutters in CA who chained up 13 kids...

[robinb]

The 2 boys in the NBC picture definitely look "off" and I would never have thought that they were this old. The girls also look very young but not as "off" as the 2 boys. It is just a shame that things like this happen and these 2 individuals are just sick individuals. It is a shame that there are so many couples that would love to have children and can't and then you have these 2 whack jobs have 13. These children were treated worse than animals. I have 2 dogs that we adopted from the animal shelter and they are spoiled rotten and we even bought a king sized bed so the 2 big dogs could sleep with us. Keep those children in your thoughts and prayers because they are going to need all the help that they can get. Let's hope these 2 sick individuals don't just get a slap on the wrist.

I was thinking the same thing about the two young men, but I think they were awkwardly kneeling trying to do an Elvis impression. They don't look as "off" in other photos where they are standing.

The dad sure doesn't look like he's missed many meals while the mom still has a "girlish figure" after having at least 13 children. I wonder if he was in control of everything (including who eats what) and she was as much of a "captive" as the kids.

 

[MamaBelle4]

I wonder if he was in control of everything (including who eats what) and she was as much of a "captive" as the kids

He may have been in control. She wasn't shackled down. She had contact with the outside world. She may have not known what she was getting into, but she entered into a relationship with him. The kids didn't asked to be born and abused.

To me, while she may have been captive too, she was not as much of one as those children were. And I don't honestly think that's the case at all. I think they did this together.

And, if I had to speculate, I would say the reason was what a PP alluded to. Keeping the kids, kids.

 

[JaneBanks]

Not surprised to find out about the all J names.

 

[robinb]

He may have been in control. She wasn't shackled down. She had contact with the outside world. She may have not known what she was getting into, but she entered into a relationship with him. The kids didn't asked to be born and abused.

To me, while she may have been captive too, she was not as much of one as those children were. And I don't honestly think that's the case at all. I think they did this together.

And, if I had to speculate, I would say the reason was what a PP alluded to. Keeping the kids, kids.

There are different types of captives which is why I used quotes. She may be as much of a victim as the kids.

 

[DisneyLover1217]

I agree besides this story being sick, there are things that are off. Like the 17 year old that knew to dial 911. It sounds like they were sheltered pretty well, I'm sure they were taught to fear the cops. I can't imagine the parents ever brought up 911 in a conversation. Also like a PP said how did this kid know how to use a cell phone when never owning one. It's not easy to figure out and who's phone was it, was it the parents'?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Sounds like a case in my area. They were older foster/adoptive children but the size of small children. A 19 year old weighing 45 pounds. Disturbing !!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collingswood_Boys

 

[tarheelmjfan]

There are different types of captives which is why I used quotes. She may be as much of a victim as the kids.

She may be a victim, but not as much as the kids. Unless her parents raised her as a captive, which hasn't been reported that I know of, she was exposed to normal life enough to know what was going on was wrong. If she was allowed to leave the home without him, she could have easily gone for help. Even if she wasn't, as an adult, she had plenty of opportunities to report the abuse in places we know about. I haven't read how they met. Unless her parents held her captive, then gave her to him, she should have known better. She's not completely innocent, regardless of how the marriage was. I can imagine a woman allowing her DH to treat her this way, but no Mom gets a pass for allowing that to happen to her children, unless she was also held captive & never allowed to leave the home.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I agree besides this story being sick, there are things that are off. Like the 17 year old that knew to dial 911. It sounds like they were sheltered pretty well, I'm sure they were taught to fear the cops. I can't imagine the parents ever brought up 911 in a conversation. Also like a PP said how did this kid know how to use a cell phone when never owning one. It's not easy to figure out and who's phone was it, was it the parents'?

I agree. That doesn't make sense, but I don't know all of the details. I'm sure they'll eventually be released. I don't blame the kids though. It appears they were beaten down & didn't think they were able to defend themselves against their parents.

 

[DisneyLover1217]

I agree. That doesn't make sense, but I don't know all of the details. I'm sure they'll eventually be released. I don't blame the kids though. It appears they were beaten down & didn't think they were able to defend themselves against their parents.

I don't blame the kids at all. I just think there are things we don't know. I'm wondering if the kids in fact snuck out from time to time, knew what was going on was wrong, but didn't know how to handle it out of fear and brainwashing.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I don't blame the kids at all. I just think there are things we don't know. I'm wondering if the kids in fact snuck out from time to time, knew what was going on was wrong, but didn't know how to handle it out of fear and brainwashing.

I didn't mean to insinuate that you were blaming the kids. That wasn't my intention at all. I was just agreeing the story sounds off considering the circumstances, but I don't know enough details to know how she acquired the cell phone or how she knew to call 911.

 

[Donnainnj]

Sounds like a case in my area. They were older foster/adoptive children but the size of small children. A 19 year old weighing 45 pounds. Disturbing !!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collingswood_Boys

This was the first thing I thought of when I heard the story. Even did a little research on the boys who were abused. They had an update years later where the three younger boys seemed to be doing well.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I read that neighbors thought things were off but no one said anything. We all need to look out for each other.
Such a sad story.

The one said they saw one of them out at 11 at night planting grass, I would of called the police knowing something was wrong.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Some of this is why this story seems particularly disturbing. When I first heard and saw the headline, I envisioned the parents as some off the grid types living on hundreds of acres in the middle of no where, with no outside contact, relatives, etc.

This just gets stranger and stranger when you hear there were grandparents and they live in a suburban neighborhood with homes on top of each other, etc. If people outside the family knew they had 13 kids, seems like somewhere along the line something would have jumped out at someone...

Of course, in situations like this you like to think someone should have known something.

I remember when Perris was a nothing, it was full of gangs and a cheap place to live. It has grown up and is rather nice now.

 

[RangerPooh]

I remember when Perris was a nothing, it was full of gangs and a cheap place to live. It has grown up and is rather nice now.

DH said something similar. Commenting that it didn’t look like that when he lived there briefly as a child.

This story is troubling and things don’t add up. Hopefully more news will surface filling in the missing pieces. One piece that I heard today was that the mom ran away and married her husband at age 16, he was 8 years older than her. But t the guys hair, why???? Who in their right mind thinks that style looks good?

 

[NYCgrrl]

DH said something similar. Commenting that it didn’t look like that when he lived there briefly as a child.

This story is troubling and things don’t add up. Hopefully more news will surface filling in the missing pieces. One piece that I heard today was that the mom ran away and married her husband at age 16, he was 8 years older than her. But t the guys hair, why???? Who in their right mind thinks that style looks good?

Wouldn't be surprised to learn that one member of the family cut everyone's hair.

 

[luvflorida]

I find this whole story maddening, baffling and heartbreaking. And, I don't believe for a second that there aren't relatives of this family that didn't know something was going on in that house.

One of the most baffling reports (to me, anyway) was the mother's reaction when the authorities arrived at the house. According to several reports, the mother seemed surprised when the deputies showed up at her house. The authorities described the house as extremely filthy and foul smelling. They saw three people in chains, and yet, the mother seemed genuinely perplexed as to why the deputies were at the house. And, does anyone else think her smiling mug shot is a bit disturbing?

I find it so difficult to reconcile the images of these kids at Disneyland with the reality of their horrific home situation.

So, so sad what these innocent kids have had to endure.

 

[penn19]

DH said something similar. Commenting that it didn’t look like that when he lived there briefly as a child.

This story is troubling and things don’t add up. Hopefully more news will surface filling in the missing pieces. One piece that I heard today was that the mom ran away and married her husband at age 16, he was 8 years older than her. But t the guys hair, why???? Who in their right mind thinks that style looks good?

He reminds me of the guy from Dumb and Dumber.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yeah, my gut instinct is also that the motive was lagely one of keeping the kids as kids. Just looking at the photos and the comments the parents had made on them, where they seem very proud of having "a dozen" or "over a dozen" it seems like they used the kids as props.

I think the parents liked the attention of having a lot of young children. it wouldn't be quite the same with a noticable large age range and if the kids were allowed to grow up, they might not be willing to come on to vow renewals and trips and wear matching shirts and help draw that attention either.

It just feels to me like that is the primary thing. All those vow renewals, Mom dressed as Snow White with the baby, etc--it all feels very much about the attention it garnered for the adults (including maybe some "status" among their ultra religious sect for having such a large family when "called by God" to do so?).

I've wondered about the cell phone and knowing to call 911 as well. I wonder if there was a point when the kids were so brainwashed and the parents to confortable with them being so that they did not see giving the kids acess to a phone or teaching them to call 911 as a threat. Was the baby born at a hospital? Later labors can go quickly---maybe the parent trained one or more children to call for help if mom went into labor and dad was not available? Or for some other reason?

The mom being "perplexed" by the police arriving might well have been due to her believing so strongly that the kids were docily accepting of their treatment that they would never ask for help? Never even undertand or see their situation as a problem? Like she has come to be complacent and beleive they'd never attract unwated attention or negative reactions and was sort of shock to ralize otherwise?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Hearing more stories from the neighbors now... I don't know these people just want to be on TV or what, but I can't believe no one called for at least a welfare check after hearing some of these things. Kids doing yardwork all hours of the night, one man said he saw them through the windows marching for hours one night. Craziness.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hearing more stories from the neighbors now... I don't know these people just want to be on TV or what, but I can't believe no one called for at least a welfare check after hearing some of these things. Kids doing yardwork all hours of the night, one man said he saw them through the windows marching for hours one night. Craziness.

yeah, I think that is the man that one of the not so trustworthy Brit tabloids was quoting yesterday. Reading what he claims he saw/noticed----I cannot imagine notciing that and NOT at least calling authorities with concerns.