These people deserve to never again look as happy as they do in these photos:
A Florida couple accused of torturing and starving five of their seven children were taken into custody Friday night in Utah after detectives were able to track their cell phone signals, authorities said.
Capt. Jim Cernich of the Sheriff's Office in Citrus County, Florida, said deputies in San Juan County, Utah, apprehended Linda Dollar, 51, and John Dollar, 58, on a road after recognizing their gold 2000 Lexus sport utility vehicle.
The Dollars face charges in Citrus County, where they lived in Beverly Hills, on one count of aggravated child abuse/torture for all five children.
The accusations include pulling out the children's toenails with pliers and keeping them so malnourished they "looked like pictures from Auschwitz," authorities said.
Seven kids lived with them - seven kids who never left the house:
In the past two years, the Dollars have moved their family to at least three different homes in the Tampa area after living in Tennessee, secluding themselves behind fences and in piney groves. The children were home-schooled and rarely played with neighbors or enjoyed the family's pool.
"Who has seven kids and the kids never go out and play?'' asked Dawn Crescimone, who lived near the family in suburban Tampa two years ago.
The Education Wonks say: "There should be a special type of hell reserved for people/disgusting little creatures that do these kinds of things to children."
Homesteading Today forum: "Here's some background. Linda Dollar's father was a very abusive man. So abusive that her sister committed suicide. Apparently, the cycle was never broken."
Outside the Beltway: "The juxtaposition of their accused deeds and the file photos is rather disturbing." (I'll say.)
Samizdata: "There are two benefits of even the most useless schools. Children meet other children their own age, which is useful if one is not intent on becoming a hermit. Of course there is plenty of unreported abuse that occurs in full view. In some schools abuse is ignored or even inflicted. But most basically of all, a 12 year-old child turning up weighing 35 pounds with burn marks and bruises in rags might be noticed. So having children turn up somewhere where their disappearance or injury will be noticed is a valuable function of schools. Perhaps they need to open twice a month for roll-call and then let them go home?"
Posted by kswygert at February 6, 2005 05:02 PM