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Adoptive Parents Accused Of Torturing Children
Adoptive Parents Accused Of Torturing Children
Posted: 11:59 am EDT August 12, 2010
Updated: 6:39 pm EDT August 12, 2010
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Two children were taken away from their biological parents because of abuse. Now, deputies say, their adoptive parents were torturing them in Altamonte Springs.
DOCUMENT: Graphic Details In Arrest Report
The adoptive parents, 49-year-old Dwayne Hardy and his wife, 46-year-old Pamela, were arrested Wednesday, but were free on $7,100 bond each Thursday.
The young victims are safe now, back in the foster home they were just adopted out of, safe from abuse that the arrest report (read it) says included "elements of torture."
Investigators say the Hardys quiet Altamonte Springs home on West Citrus Avenue (see map) had become a terrible place for the 6-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy, a biological brother and sister, they just adopted in February.
“They never seemed the kind of people that could ever hurt a child,” neighbor Samuel Ramos said.
Ramos never witnessed trouble, but investigators say an anonymous hotline tipster claimed the Hardys withheld food so the kids were eating from a trashcan.
The young girl told deputies “sometimes if she asks for more food, she is told she is 'being greedy' and then she will have to miss her next meal.”
“These are horrific allegations. These are not normal allegations of abuse,” said Carrie Hoeppner, Department of Children and Familes (DCF).
DCF investigators, working with deputies, found serious physical abuse, too. The girl told investigators "she receives spankings on her buttocks with a paddle called ‘The Law.’ She said that sometimes while being spanked she starts to bleed.”
The 9-year-old boy told investigators his mother was once hit him 55 times with "The Law" and had also been struck on the head with a belt by his father. The boy told investigators that, if he was caught sneaking food, he wouldn't be allowed to eat meals over the next several days. He, too, told investigators the paddling led to bleeding.
At other times, the parents allegedly used intense exercise as punishment.
During a medical exam conducted by Kids House Medical Program Director Laura Phipps PA, injuries were found on both children consistent with the reported abuse. According to the arrest report, "Phipps stated that the history presented during the forensic interview and exam suggests elements of torture and a wanton disregard for the safety and well being of the children."
Most troubling is the kids were taken from their biological parents because of abuse and went to live with the Hardys to start a new life. DCF told WFTV the Hardys passed background checks, had good references and no claims of abuse for the four biological kids they already raised.
“It's a very stringent process to either be a foster or adoptive parent,” Hoeppner said. “These are individuals who sought out a relationship, who came to us wanting to make the life of an abused child better."
The Hardys were not home Thursday, but a family member told WFTV they've been married for years and raised four children of their own before this.
Posted: 11:59 am EDT August 12, 2010
Updated: 6:39 pm EDT August 12, 2010
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Two children were taken away from their biological parents because of abuse. Now, deputies say, their adoptive parents were torturing them in Altamonte Springs.
DOCUMENT: Graphic Details In Arrest Report
The adoptive parents, 49-year-old Dwayne Hardy and his wife, 46-year-old Pamela, were arrested Wednesday, but were free on $7,100 bond each Thursday.
The young victims are safe now, back in the foster home they were just adopted out of, safe from abuse that the arrest report (read it) says included "elements of torture."
Investigators say the Hardys quiet Altamonte Springs home on West Citrus Avenue (see map) had become a terrible place for the 6-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy, a biological brother and sister, they just adopted in February.
“They never seemed the kind of people that could ever hurt a child,” neighbor Samuel Ramos said.
Ramos never witnessed trouble, but investigators say an anonymous hotline tipster claimed the Hardys withheld food so the kids were eating from a trashcan.
The young girl told deputies “sometimes if she asks for more food, she is told she is 'being greedy' and then she will have to miss her next meal.”
“These are horrific allegations. These are not normal allegations of abuse,” said Carrie Hoeppner, Department of Children and Familes (DCF).
DCF investigators, working with deputies, found serious physical abuse, too. The girl told investigators "she receives spankings on her buttocks with a paddle called ‘The Law.’ She said that sometimes while being spanked she starts to bleed.”
The 9-year-old boy told investigators his mother was once hit him 55 times with "The Law" and had also been struck on the head with a belt by his father. The boy told investigators that, if he was caught sneaking food, he wouldn't be allowed to eat meals over the next several days. He, too, told investigators the paddling led to bleeding.
At other times, the parents allegedly used intense exercise as punishment.
During a medical exam conducted by Kids House Medical Program Director Laura Phipps PA, injuries were found on both children consistent with the reported abuse. According to the arrest report, "Phipps stated that the history presented during the forensic interview and exam suggests elements of torture and a wanton disregard for the safety and well being of the children."
Most troubling is the kids were taken from their biological parents because of abuse and went to live with the Hardys to start a new life. DCF told WFTV the Hardys passed background checks, had good references and no claims of abuse for the four biological kids they already raised.
“It's a very stringent process to either be a foster or adoptive parent,” Hoeppner said. “These are individuals who sought out a relationship, who came to us wanting to make the life of an abused child better."
The Hardys were not home Thursday, but a family member told WFTV they've been married for years and raised four children of their own before this.
These things are proof of end times, if you ask me. I cannot see these things being allowed to go on indefinately. Something's got to give! As disgusting as this story is, it is mild in comparison to the story of Baby P. (if you're ready for a good cry, look his story up on you tube), and others. People have become wicked and rotten to the core. Parents don't even seem to care that children get overheated, overtired, sick, cold, hungry, needing nurture when they cry or, anything else for that matter. All they can think about is "ME!"
Sad and sick. I read a story not too long ago about some of the horrors a few adopted children have faced. Being adopted to essentially be the live in maid...or being adopted to be sold for sex. Lock the lot of them up, and for life!
So sad...sigh.
These children trust their parents to protect them and love them. If we are not moved by this to want to make a difference, there is something radically wrong with us.
These children trust their parents to protect them and love them. If we are not moved by this to want to make a difference, there is something radically wrong with us.
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