Police: Father arrested after one child found in dog cage, another naked outside

[joeybee12]

A Tulsa, Okla., man was arrested after his 16-month-old daughter was found locked in a metal dog cage and covered with feces and his naked 3-year old son was found crying outside on a cold afternoon, police said.

William Todd Lewallen, 47, was arrested for felony child abuse or neglect. He was found in a stupor in bed with a third child, a 3-year-old boy who was also naked, Tulsa police said.

The three children were turned over to the custody of the state Department of Human Services.

Police made the disturbing find on Sunday afternoon when they responded to a neighbor’s call about a child crying outside, with the temperature in the low 40s.


http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/13/15139734-police-father-arrested-after-one-child-found-in-dog-cage-another-naked-outside?lite

Photo kinda says it all...

[Wait Wut]

1. The photo probably doesn't say it all.

I'm sure there's much more.

I just decided something, however, thanks to your post. I regularly donate to charities/organizations that work towards the prevention of child abuse and neglect. From now on, each time I read/hear a story about abuse/neglect, I'm making an extra donation. It can't be a lot, I'm not rich. But, $5 - $10 from 100 people works.

The sad thing about this photo, we don't know what he looked like as a child. I wonder if he was left wandering around naked, unfed, abused. I wonder if one of his children will be posted on the internet in 40 years leading a story just like this one.

It starts somewhere, it can end somewhere.

I hope those children find someone to take care of them. Unfortunately, there is so little funding for so many families.

[LiberalAndProud]

8. My thoughts were in the same vein as yours.

I imagine the man lived in this same kind of nightmare as a child. I feel compassion for the child he was, even as I hate the parent he has become. I wish we could fix this. I really do.

[Wait Wut]

18. It has to start early.

It's still such a taboo subject. Even the comments here are blaming drugs. While that could be one of the causes, it isn't the only cause. There are plenty of children that have wealthy, non-drug using parents that are abused and neglected.

But, what you said is our hope. "I wish we could fix this." We need more people saying that instead of just pointing a finger. I want to see football players supporting child abuse prevention as much as they support fighting breast cancer.

[Liberal_in_LA]

32. agreed. One thing about the show "criminal minds", it refers to the childhood of the

serial killers sometimes - The profilers will mention that the serial killer experienced abuse as a child.

I think about that every time I read a story like this.

[joeybee12]

10. My point being...meth...nt

[Wait Wut]

19. Oh...I guess it could be.

His skin looks pretty clear. The gaunt appearance could be malnutrition/poor diet.

Not all abusers are tweakers.

[txdemsftw]

22. I agree, it may not be drugs..

but my sister doesn't 'pick' and has never had very noticeable skin problems..but she is severely addicted. She lost teeth, looks skeletal, and her eyes are always huge.

But if I had to guess, drugs are a huge factor here.

[Wait Wut]

26. I'm so sorry.

I've watched friends deteriorate, but never a relative. I can't imagine the pain that must cause. Is there any hope that she'll get help?

I've known addicts/recovering addicts my whole life. I've never seen anything as horrible as meth.

[txdemsftw]

31. We've tried many times

to get her help. She has been in several rehab facilites, but she never would stay clean for more than a few months. She went to jail in August and just got out a month ago and so far she has been clean, but we aren't holding our breath...we've been down this road too many times to celebrate too soon.

Meth is the worst drug ever...it destroys people. The sad thing is though, is even if she does stay clean, her mind will never be the same.

We can only hope.

But, thank you for the hugs.

[LiberalAndProud]

21. Do you believe that every abusive parent abuses drugs?

I imagine the correlation is quite high. We know that many abused children grow up to be child abusers. That's fact. If they also abuse drugs, we find ourselves in a chicken/egg argument. This guy may be (probably is) a drug abuser -- if not meth, then alcohol. That doesn't negate or discount the effect of generational cycles. It just doesn't.

[Anthony McCarthy]

2. Let me guess

they'll "try to keep the family together". I'll bet they've said that about him already.

[txdemsftw]

3. My heart breaks for those kids...

I sure hope they find loving families who will take proper care of them...

[4th law of robotics]

4. Not to stereotype but I'm going to hazard a guess:

drugs. Lot's and lot's of drugs.

[txdemsftw]

6. I'm gonna just guess it's Meth...

the look of missing teeth and his wide eyes kinda tips him off....but I could be wrong.

My older sister has been addicted for years, and she cannot take care of herself, much less her 2 kids...it's really sad.

[4th law of robotics]

7. Well "lot's" doesn't necessarily mean a wide variety

It could be lot's of meth.

I have never heard of a casual/social meth user.

[txdemsftw]

9. I wasn't disagreeing with you..

I was just saying I am guessing it WAS meth...lots of it??

[4th law of robotics]

13. Heh, yeah probably

I don't get the appeal.

I understand wanting to not live in reality anymore. Sure. Not a great plan but I can see the motivation.

But of all the drugs to choose from why meth? The one you know will permanently destroy every aspect of your life.

[txdemsftw]

16. Yes, it's sad.

My sister has permanent brain damage. She is 32 years old but has the mindset of a 17 year old. She can't keep a job, can't take care of her kids, has hepatitis C, and has lost several of her teeth.

This drug RUINS you...it is horrid.

[a kennedy]

5. What the h*ll is wrong with these people.....

[madinmaryland]

11. Drug addition, mental illness and the lack of care for these people.

[Brickbat]

20. Yep, it's not hard to find reasons.

[Aerows]

12. Looks like Meth

Horribly, horribly sad.

I can't believe we waste resources going after pot smokers, when there are people on meth running around, and it is truly a deadly, deranging drug.

[mzmolly]

14. Horrid.

The children's mother had to be aware the kids were being mistreated? I hope she's charged as well. Ugh.

[Cleita]

23. Which begs the question. Where is the mom? n/t

[mzmolly]

25. The article said she was at work

and came home just as police were arriving.

[Cleita]

27. This gets even sadder. n/t

[hifiguy]

15. That pic screams meth tweeker.

Or meth cooker.

[Barack_America]

17. Thank God the kids were unharmed...physically at least. nt

[Marrah_G]

24. He does not look stable

Maybe drugs, maybe untreated mental illness. I hope both he and the children get the help they need.

[fairfaxvadem]

28. My first reaction...

Wasn't immediately "drugs, alcohol, etc.," until I read he was 47. Holy Toledo. I'm 48. I am shocked at how old he looks.

Whatever the reason, that man has lived one hard life. What a sorry state for everyone involved. And I agree that it's most likely this man never knew any better from his own childhood on...

I hate pondering the twist of fate or whatever you want to assign to the notion that a lot of humankind is dealt an automatic shitty hand from the time they enter this world. Sometimes the odds are insurmountable. Which brings me to my firm belief as a teenager that being an adult wasn't all it was cracked up to be - too many screwups out there - a belief I still hold to this day, having met more than my fair share.

If I ever to get to know "why"....

[Earth_First]

29. They were just rehearsing for National Lampoon's Romney Vacation

It's a strange, twisted tale...

[Codeine]

30. Fucking tweakers. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. "Other neighbors took the boy in and warmed him up."

thank goodness.