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Teen Locked Up In Closet For Years

by LarryDeezell | September 28, 2009 at 01:49 pm

977 views | 52 Recommendations | 3 comments

A 14-year-old, Oklahoma boy, had escaped from a home after he was kept there for 4 1/2 years, with most of his time locked in a bedroom closet. LaRhonda Marie McCall, 37, mother of the 14-year-old boy and friend, Steve Vern Hamilton, 38, was arrested with child abuse and child neglect.

A security guard at a National Guard facility in Oklahoma City called police on Friday after the teen showed up malnourished and with numerous scars and other signs of abuse, police Sgt. Gary Knight said

Knight had said "he was hungry. He was dirty. He had numerous scars on his body, it was sad."

Formal charges have not been filed, and both were being held on $400,000 bond, according to jail records

The Teenaged boy had been only wearing a pair of oversized shorts held up by a belt, has just walked up to a guard at the Guard facility around 5 p.m and had asked where he could report being abused.

He told police that scars on his stomach and torso were from where alcohol had been poured on him and set on fire. Other scars were from being tied up, hit with an extension cord and choked, the boy told police

Knight had also said "he had scars covering most of his body, they were basically from head to foot."

The teen told police he moved to the Oklahoma City area from New Jersey about 4 1/2 years ago after his mother was released from jail. Since arriving in Oklahoma, he said, he had never been to school and spent most of his time locked in a bedroom closet

The had told Knight that "the closet door was mostly blocked with a stepladder or a bed and that he managed to push the door open enough to escape and leave the house."

Knight said six other children living at the home were taken into DHS custody, but none showed signs of abuse.

A DHS spokeswoman said she could not discuss specific cases but generally an investigation would be conducted before any of the children are returned to the home or placed with other family members

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Barbara McPherson

at 18:31 on September 28th, 2009

What a sad situation. I wonder what Mother dearest was in jail for. Of course all those poor kids will need therapy.

Marieke Apeldoorn (not verified)

at 23:51 on September 28th, 2009

How can anyone treat (their) children like this? I cannot imagine doing these things to my children, or anyone else's for that matter.That story touches me in my heart. I wish I could do something for those children or any children in the world being neglected or abused.Perhaps a prayer will help...