# Child torture: what the fuck is wrong with these people? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 4, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442 "2005-02-04T22:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/1 "2005-02-04T22:53:01Z")
[link o’ death](http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-04-couple-sought_x.htm) What the fuck? Where did they even get these children? Not theirs, not foster kids. They keep them prisoner in their house and treat them like caged animals. Except that people usually feed caged animals. [Costanza] It makes me so mad! [/GC] Cases like this are among those that make it harder to oppose the death penalty! I hope they spend the rest of their lives rotting in prison. Of course, we the taxpayers will feed them much better than they fed these kids. The guards also wont beat them with hammers, unfortunately. I suppose that will have to wait until whatever god they believe in sends them to the underworld. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/2 "2005-02-04T23:16:20Z")
Why weren’t the people arrested? How the hell did they just expect them to show up at a hearing??? I am fucking appalled. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/3 "2005-02-04T23:25:16Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > [link o’ death](http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-04-couple-sought_x.htm) > > What the fuck? Where did they even get these children? Not theirs, not foster kids. They keep them prisoner in their house and treat them like caged animals. Except that people usually feed caged animals. > > [Costanza] > It makes me so mad! > [/GC] > > Cases like this are among those that make it harder to oppose the death penalty! I hope they spend the rest of their lives rotting in prison. Of course, we the taxpayers will feed them much better than they fed these kids. The guards also wont beat them with hammers, unfortunately. I suppose that will have to wait until whatever god they believe in sends them to the underworld. There were two cases this week in my city that involved young children. One involved the rape of a 6 week(!) old baby, and the other the rape of a 6 month old baby. I can’t help but think that those kids fates would be similar to the news item you referenced. It make me just want to stop reading or hearing the news at all. I’m not a huge fan of the death penalty, but can’t help but think it is appropriate for these offenders. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/4 "2005-02-04T23:47:50Z")
Normally I find myself popping into these threads in a state of disgust after people start making horrible statements about what should be done to the alleged perpetrators. But after reading a description of the case on CNN, all I can think right now is “damn :(”. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/5 "2005-02-04T23:52:07Z")
So, the 14 year old twins who weigh 36 and 38 pounds, and the 16 year old who weighs 60 lbs…will they ever have a chance at a normal life? What permament damage have they suffered? Is there a chance they will recover? [Gowron]You will die. Slowly.[/Gowron] People like this make me want to bring back the stocks, the dunking stool, and public hanging. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/6 "2005-02-04T23:53:07Z")
Why do these things happen? Why do these people exist? I am not pro-death penalty–it’s too easy, to my mind. I also don’t believe that these folks are insane–they look damn happy, no? I am sick. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/7 "2005-02-04T23:54:28Z")
I just heard about this on MSNBC a few minutes ago. How could someone do this to a child? And why the hell weren’t these people arrested?! I’m so mad I can’t even put it into words. This happened just a few miles down the road from my parents’ house. I still can’t believe something so horrible happened in my hometown. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/8 "2005-02-05T00:02:20Z")
Yeah, both this and the cookie story were just on the Abrams Report. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/9 "2005-02-05T00:17:12Z")
Cookie story? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/10 "2005-02-05T00:39:47Z")
[Cookie story](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=300683). (Not _nearly_ as disgusting, so don’t expect any kind of parity. It may even help to get the bad taste out of your mouth after reading this one.) > [@eleanorigby](#): > > I also don’t believe that these folks are insane–they look damn happy, no? Uh, you _do_ mean that you don’t believe they’re _sane_, right? I mean, those are their _mugshots_, not barbeque snaps. “Yay! We’re charged with unfathomable inhumanity to children! Yaaaay!” Cripes, those mugshots make [B.C. Premiere Gordon Campbell’s](http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2003/04/07/59840-cp.html) look perfectly reasonable. What the fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/11 "2005-02-05T00:47:23Z")
According to the CNN article I just read, the children were being homeschooled. That would make me less surprised if they offer some kind of religious justification… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/12 "2005-02-05T00:51:53Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > [Cookie story](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=300683). (Not _nearly_ as disgusting, so don’t expect any kind of parity. It may even help to get the bad taste out of your mouth after reading this one.) > > Uh, you _do_ mean that you don’t believe they’re _sane_, right? > > I mean, those are their _mugshots_, not barbeque snaps. “Yay! We’re charged with unfathomable inhumanity to children! Yaaaay!” > > Cripes, those mugshots make [B.C. Premiere Gordon Campbell’s](http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2003/04/07/59840-cp.html) look perfectly reasonable. What the fuck? [Hijack of own thread] Wouldnt Gordon have diplomatic immunity? [/Hijack] ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/13 "2005-02-05T01:19:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Uh, you _do_ mean that you don’t believe they’re _sane_, right? > > I mean, those are their _mugshots_, not barbeque snaps. “Yay! We’re charged with unfathomable inhumanity to children! Yaaaay!” > > Cripes, those mugshots make [B.C. Premiere Gordon Campbell’s](http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2003/04/07/59840-cp.html) look perfectly reasonable. What the fuck? Who smiles for their mug shots? I didn’t claim the “yay” bit–that’s your interp. Guess I’m tired of the “well, I am insane so therefore cannot be responsible for anything” defense. Post partum psychosis, I’ll grant you. But determined torture over years? Certainly it is NOT sane as you and I are (I suppose) but is it psychotic? Is it a reason to be found not guilty? I dont’ think so. Homeschooled or not–whose kids are they? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/14 "2005-02-05T01:25:37Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > [Cookie story](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=300683). (Not _nearly_ as disgusting, so don’t expect any kind of parity. It may even help to get the bad taste out of your mouth after reading this one.) > > Uh, you _do_ mean that you don’t believe they’re _sane_, right? > > I mean, those are their _mugshots_, not barbeque snaps. “Yay! We’re charged with unfathomable inhumanity to children! Yaaaay!” > > Cripes, those mugshots make [B.C. Premiere Gordon Campbell’s](http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2003/04/07/59840-cp.html) look perfectly reasonable. What the fuck? [Hijack of own thread] Wouldnt Gordon have diplomatic immunity? [/Hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/15 "2005-02-05T01:26:32Z")
Good news! [Authorities in Utah have captured them.](http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/breaking_news/10820998.htm) > [@Metacom](#): > > According to the CNN article I just read, the children were being homeschooled. That would make me less surprised if they offer some kind of religious justification… I think you can [count on that](http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=2903844). > [@](#): > > In East Knox County, a home that was formerly Mountain View Christian Academy was owned and run by the Dollars. […] > > [Paula Spradlin, whose son briefly attended MVCA in '98] says the Dollars seemed to be very religious and she never suspected they would hurt a child. “Not the way they talked about God and church and their faith.” **Cynical Gabe** , I’m not sure how diplomatic immunity works, but Gordo was on vacation. Do foreign governors even qualify? Anyway, the diplomat’s nation is expected to waive diplomatic immunity in the case of a serious and inexcusable crime. Whew, this thread just keeps on truckin’. **eleanorrigby** , I doubt they’ve even try for an insanity defense. It’s clear that they’re bugshit crazy, but not in a not-responsible-for-their-actions kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/16 "2005-02-05T03:09:16Z")
Whose kids are they? And why do these assholes have them? and I fear permanent brain damage–to be that underweight while growing–it’s got to have impacted quite negatively on the brains of those kids–not to mention their whole bodies, and their psyches…sad and sick. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/17 "2005-02-05T05:05:21Z")
I read the link at work and recognized the Joker-from-Batman grin on that batshit-crazy obese cunt’s face. That’s the same insane grin my father’s second wife had in most of her photos She was a religious fanatic and a wicked stepmonster to myself and my sister. Yes, people can be “God-fearing Christians” and total monsters; cruel, evil cowards. Whenever I read about people abusing children, they blame the children for the abuse by accusing them of “stealing food”. It’s a horrible thing to be underfed when you live in a home with full pantries and fridge, then punished for taking food out of it. You grow up believing that you don’t deserve to have what you need and live your life in a way that fulfills those expectations. I hope that those kids’ lives aren’t completely ruined by those two assholes’ abuse. I don’t know if they’ll ever be physically or emotionally healthy. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/18 "2005-02-05T05:57:19Z")
[They’ve been caught.](http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/04/family.torture/index.html) Turns out they actually had control of seven children, two of whom (a 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy) were “favorites” and not abused. I can’t help wondering how fucked up those “unabused” kids are – even though not phsyically, mentally? What kind of warped view of the world and how to relate to people have they learned? The kindly Mrs. Dollar had this to say in her application to become a foster parent: > [@](#): > > In a 1995 DCF questionnaire, Linda Dollar wrote, “We have five adopted children and have seen what we can do to help those less fortunate, we can see so many children who need special care, love and an opportunity to be part of a warm, loving, caring home atmosphere.” ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/19 "2005-02-05T06:07:58Z")
The fact that their pics make them look like nice, friendly older folks is even more disturbing. This incident reminded me of something I heard Sylvia Browne say once (For the record, I think she’s mostly a crackpot, but I agreed with this one thing she said). She was on a talk show, and someone asked her if there was a devil and a Hell. She responded, “There is no devil, but there is a Hell, and we are living in it.” Stories like this just reinforced that for me. I hope those psychos suffer a fate worse than death. There is no excuse for what they’ve done. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442/20 "2005-02-05T06:18:40Z")
[Link](http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/04/Citrus/Children_tell_story_o.shtml) from the largest local newspaper. Slightly more detailed, which is to say more disturbing. > [@](#): > > “I saw a photo of the 16-year-old boy, and you saw ribs showing,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Gail Tierney said. “It looked like the pictures you see of Auschwitz. That’s what they looked like. They were so tiny, so little.” > … > The children told investigators that the Dollars starved them, shocked them with electricity, pulled out their toenails with pliers, bound them with chains and strips of plastic and struck their feet with hammers. Other neighbors quoted in this article say that they were unaware that there were any children, much less 7, in this home. There isn’t really anything to say here. Just nothing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-torture-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-these-people/288442.md?page=2)