Sterilization is in order here.(Warn: child abuse)

[Michelle]

Ok I know objectively that mandatory sterilization is unethical and a gross violation of human rights.

And yet I could be persuaded that cases like this warrant it.

Warning: disgusting neglect of a child and animals in the article below.

And a few of you may remember me venting about my adoptive sister's biological mother trying to have a relationship with her last year and me being upset about it. This article hits close to home.

www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Parents-in-filthy-trailer-case-already-on-3772084.php

CLEVELAND - Liberty County authorities investigating possible animal cruelty this week discovered a baby - who belonged to parents on probation for child abuse - whose existence appears little known to the outside world and whose mother admitted to sometimes placing the 1-year-old in a dog cage.

Inside the rural home, among the festering trash, feces and the stench of decay, deputies found the baby. Beside an animal crate. With roaches crawling on her.

Law enforcement officers were not the only ones surprised to discover a child in a filthy environment with a dead horse and dozens of severely malnourished animals.

Child welfare officials and neighbors were stunned to learn that a baby lived with parents who pleaded guilty to child injury last year and at an address from which five other youngsters had been removed.

"We did not know about the baby," Child Protective Services spokeswoman Gwen Carter said Wednesday.

The 12½-month-old girl was discovered on Tuesday evening in the 100 block of County Road 2802 as authorities investigated the conditions of animals on the property, said Capt. Rex Evans, a spokesman for the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.

The child was drinking spoiled milk from a dirty bottle, investigators observed.

"The conditions were deplorable," Evans said, adding that deputies also found evidence of narcotics.

Felony animal cruelty

Mabel Jo Larsen, 32, the baby's mother, was sitting outside the home when authorities arrived. She spoke with deputies for an extended period before mentioning the baby inside.

According to Liberty County court records, Larsen reported that "she puts the child in the cage sometimes so that she and the child can get some sleep." The mother also said the crate ensures "she then knows where the child is and is able to keep the child away from the animals."

Larsen was taken into custody and charged with felony animal cruelty. The 1-year-old was placed in foster care, Carter said.

Additional criminal charges against the mother are pending, Evans said.

Deputies are searching for the baby's father, 34-year-old Aaron Michael Parker, to talk to him about conditions at the home.

Larsen and Parker pleaded guilty to child injury charges a year ago - six weeks after the baby was born - and were sentenced to probation. The felonies relate to allegations of physical and emotional abuse, as well as neglect, of Parker's then-10-year-old daughter in October 2009. The charges stemmed from reports that Larsen and Parker were withholding food and restraining the malnourished girl with "zip ties" in their home. The child, now 13, lives with a relative and Parker's parental rights have been terminated.

That investigation led CPS officials to remove four other children who were not identified as abuse victims. The children, now 7, 9, 10 and 12, are living in an adoptive home, Carter said.

CPS records show that of the six children removed from the home since 2009, Parker is the father of four and three are Larsen's offspring.

Larsen was arrested again in April after violating her probation, records show.

Malnourished animals

When investigators with previous knowledge about the household were told a small child was found inside this week, "they were amazed," Carter said. "We had no idea. I don't know if they hid it from neighbors, but if anybody in that community would have known, they would have immediately contacted CPS."

Authorities returned to the home on Wednesday to continue to search the property and were joined by animal welfare volunteers. Because of the suffocating heat and debris, crews wore air packs and protective suits inside the home.

The Houston SPCA removed 15 dogs, including four puppies, and two horses. All appeared malnourished. Many of the dogs had visible eye and skin problems. Houston SPCA vice president Tara Yurkshat said the sickly animals would need medical attention. Most of the 20 to 30 underfed cats observed on Tuesday had escaped through an open back door by Wednesday.

Neighbor Cecil Palmer said he saw Parker and Larsen bury a horse in their backyard one night about six months ago.

Another neighbor, Shanna Hopkins, said she called authorities three years ago after Parker's older child showed up outside her house. The girl appeared extremely underfed with matted hair as well as cuts and bruises. Hopkins was shocked that the couple had another baby.

"With all this," she said, "I hope something happens now."

[EloiseWeenie]

:-( :-( :-( literally :-(

[Jermys]

See, I don't think mandatory sterilization is a violation of human rights in situations like this. Because these assholes aren't human.

[Michelle]

Aug 8, 2012 23:38:28 GMT -5 Jermys said:

See, I don't think mandatory sterilization is a violation of human rights in situations like this. Because these assholes aren't human.

:Y: :drink:

[JLN]

WTF. :@ :-(

[WOT?*]

Sterilization would be too easy for people like this. Maybe sterilization with a rusty knife and no anesthesia.

[ttt]

Can't reproduce if you've been taken out back and shot either...

[basilosaurus]

Has anyone else read Boy Called It? Because that's what comes to mind.

[EloiseWeenie]

This story also reminded me of a girl that was on Oprah several years ago, whose parents kept her in a dog cage in the basement.
www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Update-on-the-Girl-Forced-to-Live-in-a-Cage

[onomatopoeia]

Oh god. That poor baby.

It makes me wonder (and makes me sick to think about) all the kids who don't get found, and who live and die like this without everyone ever knowing. Or don't die, and grow up to treat their babies in the same way.

[laurenpetro]

i'm on board with sterilization as the first step. then, well, i've recently discovered that it's an UO to say prison rape/torture is acceptable so i'll just leave it there.

[charminglife]

Imagining that baby drinking spoiled milk is really getting to me.

[heightsyankee]

I saw this this morning, too. I am so disgusted. Poor baby.

[downtoearth]

I worked in a youth shelter for awhile after college, so honestly this is terrible, but doesn't surprise me. I had one 12 year old who had been raised as if he was a dog (and with tons of dogs) by his parents. It's terrible that these kids have had to live like this...

[bhnumbers]

I just don't understand how this happens again and again. There was a very similar story in my hometown last year, except the girl was 6 years old and when they found her she was about the size of a 2 year old. She was basically in a cage sitting it filth, more than half-starved. She was six and, IIRC, none of their neighbors even knew that these people had a child. They (the parents) had jobs and went to work every day and no one knew. There has to be something seriously wrong with someone's mind to be able to treat another person, much less a child or baby, like this.

[Michelle]

I keep trying to focus on the fact that she was found at 1 year old (although some reports say 13 months, some say 16 months). Hopefully in the grand scheme of things that will give her a better chance at life. My (adopted) sister was found in equally deplorable conditions but in some ways worse and she was 2 and could only say about 3 words. She is a grown woman now with an IQ of 61. She does have her own child (whole other drama) but is not really able to care for herself well and while she has a HUGE loving heart she is not a great mother... more like a sister. Her mind/maturity is kind of trapped between ages 13 and 15 or so. So she and my niece live at home with my dad and step-mom.

About a year ago some of you PCE'rs may remember I was enraged because her mother wants and believes she deserves a relationship with my sister and neice.

It is all I can do to not put a link to this article on her FB page and remind her why she doesn't, and what the rest of the world thinks of people like her (by referring her to the comments under the article).

I haven't read Boy Called It. Not sure that I can...

[Kattey]

Stories like this make me wish there was a way to reversibly sterilize people at birth. That way no one is just making babies. And people would have to undergo metal and emotional evaluations before reversing the process.

[elleblue]

Beyond horrifying.

Aug 8, 2012 23:38:28 GMT -5 Jermys said:

See, I don't think mandatory sterilization is a violation of human rights in situations like this. Because these assholes aren't human.

:Y:

[summer]

I have to stop skimming boards at bedtime.

ttt - your option is still too nice.

Why are humans so twisted? This is just one sick case of thousands. Then I think about what happens to kids in countries with a breakdown in order -Somalia, Iraq,...- and try not to think what will happen when these kids are adults.

How am I going to sleep now??

[eclaires]

I don't know why I read stories like this because my mind always immediately flashes to my kid being in that situation and then I want to curl into a ball and die.

I don't understand how people do this, and I guess I probably don't want to understand. That poor baby girl.