Florida couple accused of torturing children

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:16 am

Allegedly pulled out kids' toenails, beat them with hammers

(CNN) -- A manhunt has been launched in Florida for a couple accused of torturing five of seven children in their home, including pulling out their toenails with pliers and keeping them so malnourished that they "looked like pictures from Auschwitz," authorities said Thursday.

Citrus County Sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney said an arrest warrant was issued for John Dollar, 58, and his wife, Linda, 51 -- each of whom face one count of "aggravated child abuse/torture" for all five children.

The Dollars were the legal guardians of all seven children, although they were not their biological parents, Tierney said. She said the other two children were said to be "favorites" of the Dollars, and were spared their alleged abuse.

The case came to authorities' attention two weeks ago, when a 16-year-old was transported from the family home in Beverly Hills, Florida, to a local hospital. The boy was bleeding from a laceration on his head and there were red marks on his neck. He weighed just 59 pounds, Tierney said.

"That was just the start of the alarming parts of this case," she told CNN in a telephone interview.

Authorities went to the home and interviewed the rest of the children, including two twin 14-year-old boys who were so malnourished they weighed a mere 36 and 38 pounds -- the weight of a typical 4-year-old.

"To look at the photos I saw, it was just extremely unnerving," Tierney said. "They looked like pictures from Auschwitz."

The Dollars are accused of forcing the five children -- who ranged in age from 12 to 16 -- to sleep in a closet in the master bedroom with a "wind chime affixed to the door so that the Dollars would know if they tried to get out of the closet," Tierney said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/03/family ... index.html

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:36 am

I hope they find this couple and put them through the years of torture these children had to endure.

polycarp · Post by **polycarp** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:56 am

What a horriffic story. I hope that this wicked pair will be apprehended and brought to book. I really find it hard to understand what is happenning to we human beings. We seem to be losing our sense of love for one another. May God deliver us.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 11:33 am

we have current BOLO and APB for these monsters, they may be towing a trailer, and they may be heading for Tenn. we'll get them. there aren't that many roads to get out of florida. it's go north or you're trapped. :sneaky:

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 11:49 am

lady cop wrote: we have current BOLO and APB for these monsters, they may be towing a trailer, and they may be heading for Tenn. we'll get them.
BOLO = be on look out?

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 12:38 pm

Incredibly horrific!

And it was asked in another thread: "Do you believe in the devil?"

Yes, here is a perfect example. He's walking among us.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:38 pm

Here's a question...How in HELL did these "people" become legal guardians of these kids??? :yh_angry :-5

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:35 pm

Captured!!!

The got the ba$tards!

stand by for more details

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:02 pm

They were arrested in Utah of all places.

(This is mainly a BUMP!!)

:yh_clap (To law enforcement!!)

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:30 am

Tombstone wrote: Incredibly horrific!

And it was asked in another thread: "Do you believe in the devil?"

Yes, here is a perfect example. He's walking among us.
I was going to post this exact comment. Thank You.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:28 am

Hi kookieq and welcome to the garden

I've never worked in a prison setting, but I too am tired of paying for criminals to have health care while so many on the outside don't, they have heat, they have air, 3 meals a day, cable tv. Meanwhile, how many productive citizens do without? Our justice system here in the U.S. is basically a joke any more. I've been very upset lately about a guy who should be going back to prison and isn't, but your post made me realize how much more fun it will be to watch him struggle to make it. He never has been, never will be, a productive member of society.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:13 am

hello Kookieq, and welcome to Forum Garden

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:39 pm

Kookieq,

Welcome to FG

:guitarist

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:46 am

SICKOS!!!!!!!!!! I am speechless..............I agree..they should be tortured.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 6:58 pm

kookieq wrote: After reading this horrific story I tried to come to terms with my feelings of disgust and anger. They were caught and will be brought to trial. It did not supprise me to see that they did not seemed malnutritioned. They could loose a few pounds themselves. The horror and torture that these children endured in the hands of their trusted guardians is unbeliveable. The justice system gives the abuser more rights then the victum in this day and age. They will not endure any torture while incarcerated. They will get their three balanced meals, get their daily showers, clean sheets and they will live with no worries at all. If they end up in protective custody they will end up being catered to because they will be allowed out of cell only one hour a day for recreation. To fellons, life in prison is not too bad, just ask Martha Stewart. It's more of a vacation resort. Some get to go for 5 months while others get to spend years or a life sentence at this resorts. While in prison they will become picky. They will complain about how bad the food is, about how the sheets and clothes don't look clean, about how the offender assigned to clean their housing area and dayroom is not doing his/her job. They become slobs and depend on others to clean after them, bring their food to them and expect tax payers to pay for their higher education while they become lawyers in prison and get their degree so they can become rehabilitated when they are released. You see folks I worked in a prison setting as a security officer for 20 years. :-5 :mad:In the Islamic world of Iran these people would be taken to a public place and stoned to death.