By AMY TAXIN and MICHAEL BALSAMO, Associated Press RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — The community college student with a page-boy haircut was quiet, never drew attention to himself and earned A’s semester after semester. Despite ample opportunities, he apparently never divulged the sickening truth that his home was a veritable torture chamber. Authorities say the student, now…
By AMY TAXIN and JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — They are safe for now and, according to authorities, they are relieved. But the 13 children, aged 2 to 29, rescued from what was described as nothing less than a torture chamber will have years of therapy ahead, experts say, as they learn to…
By BRIAN MELLEY and MICHAEL BALSAMO, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The grandparents of 13 starved and tortured children say their son’s family looked happy and healthy when they last visited California six years ago. “They were just like any ordinary family,” said Betty Turpin, the 81-year-old mother of David Turpin. “And they had such…
PERRIS, Calif. (AP) — A 17-year-old girl called police after escaping from her family’s home where she and her 12 brothers and sisters were locked up in filthy conditions, some so malnourished officers at first believed all were children even though seven are adults. The girl, who was so small officers initially believed she was…
FARMINGTON, Mo. (AP) — Parents of an eastern Missouri infant face child abuse charges for allegedly putting their son in a microwave, and other abuse. Derick Boyce-Slezak and Mikala Boyce-Slezak of Park Hills were charged Tuesday and are jailed on $500,000 bond. They do not have attorneys. The baby was taken to a St. Louis…
TROY, Mo. (AP) — An 11-month-old Lincoln County boy is hospitalized with bite marks, a broken nose, ruptured ear drums and other injuries, and police believe his father is responsible. Lincoln County prosecutors have charged Brandon Johnson of Troy with three counts of child abuse causing serious physical injury. The mother, Kristen Hopper, is charged…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — For years, callers with out-of-state area codes couldn’t connect with Missouri’s toll-free hotline to report cases of potential child abuse and neglect, an issue advocates worried could discourage good Samaritans and mean some kids might not get the help they need. It took a phone call from Missouri’s first lady…
WENTZVILLE, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri father is facing child abuse charges after allegedly shoving his fingers down his infant son’s throat to make the baby stop crying. Investigators say 19-year-old Robert Burnette of Wentzville also threw his 6-week-old son onto a bed, violently shook him and picked him up by the back of his…
