Starved, beaten & Sexually Abused 15 YO Wisconsin Girl

[MuffyBee]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-20/wisconsin-girl-starved-statements/53181840/1
Starved Wis. girl's statements detail her life
February 20, 2012

MILWAUKEE (AP) – When the malnourished 15-year-old awoke each morning, she could hear her family eating and getting ready for the day. If she felt especially brave or desperate she would call to her stepmother and beg for food, but usually she just went back to bed and hoped her hunger pangs went away.

The girl was 70 pounds when she was rescued. She told investigators during lengthy interviews at the hospital that most of the food she ate was scraps she found on the floor or in the garbage. She had spent most of five years in the basement of her family's Madison home, where she was beaten and sexually assaulted.

The girl's statements, contained in court documents, paint a troubling picture of physical, mental and sexual abuse. The girl describes running away, only to be found, brought home and threatened. Confined to the basement, she had no one to ask for help. She wasn't allowed to go to school or church, have visitors or talk on the phone.
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-16/wisconsin-teen-starving-stepbrother-abuse/53124474/1
Stepbrother charged with sexual abuse of starved Wis. teen
February 17, 2012

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Prosecutors on Thursday charged the stepbrother of a severely malnourished Wisconsin teen with repeatedly sexually assaulting her beginning around her 10th birthday, in the same year she claims her father and stepmother began confining her to the basement.

Dane County prosecutors also charged the girl's father, 40, and stepmother, 42, with child abuse and first-degree reckless endangerment, which are felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of neglecting a child.

The couple and the girl's stepbrother, 18, appeared in a Madison courtroom Thursday for an initial hearing.
 ::snipping2::
The girl, who was 70 pounds when found, gained 17 pounds as of Wednesday, the complaint said.

At least two neighbors said they had called child protective services after seeing the girl rummaging through the garbage for food or being berated by the family.

According to the Department of Children and Families, there had been 10 reports of suspected neglect, sexual abuse or physical since 2006, three of which remain pending. Those three include a Feb. 6 report — the day a passing motorist spotted the girl walking barefoot and wearing thin pajamas.

The department released few details, citing legal reasons.

Of the seven others, six were unsubstantiated or didn't meet the legal definition of abuse or neglect. The department says a May 1997 report of physical abuse was substantiated but didn't note what more happened.
More...

[Sister]

It just dismays be to read how terrible people treat children.  Although I don't think this behavior among society is new, I think we are just learning how depraved people can be and it isn't a pretty picture at all.
 

[MuffyBee]

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/details-emerge-about-girl-starved-in-madison/article_9e258530-5c47-11e1-8948-001871e3ce6c.html
Details emerge about girl starved in Madison
February 21, 2012

 ::snipping2::
Dane County officials say the girl is getting help now. She gained 17 pounds after about a week under doctors' care, a criminal complaint said. She has been placed in foster care, and child welfare officials say there's been an outpouring of support from people across the nation, who sent cards and letters.

Her father, Chad G. Chritton, and stepmother, Melinda Drabek-Chritton, have been charged with child abuse, child neglect and reckless endangerment. The charges carry a maximum combined prison sentence of 11 years, 3 months. The girl's 18-year-old stepbrother, Joshua P. Drabek, is charged with child abuse and child sexual assault and faces 68 years behind bars if convicted.

The three have preliminary hearings set for Thursday morning, and prosecutors say more charges are likely.

The defendants and their relatives have declined to comment on the charges. The stepbrother's attorney did not immediately return a phone message Monday, and the father and stepmother are still applying for public defenders.
 ::snipping2::
Neighbors expressed concern. One called authorities after watching the parents scream at the girl as she was forced to push cement blocks from one side of the yard to the other for no apparent reason. However, the parents blocked county workers from speaking with the girl.

While there might have been more chances to seek help, the girl said she didn't until Feb. 6, when her stepmother threatened to throw her down the stairs. Terrified, barefoot and lightly dressed, the girl bolted through the door and into the cold, wandering aimlessly until a motorist stopped to check on her and eventually contacted police.
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2012/feb/21/severely-abused-madison-girl-improving/
Severely abused Madison girl improving
February 21, 2012

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A 15-year-old Madison girl is getting healthier.

And she's had a national outpouring of support, after 3 of her relatives were charged with molesting her and starving her for years.
 ::snipping2::
Dane County prosecutors said her father and step-mother forced her to live in an unfinished basement and live on scraps and feces, while her step-brother sexually assaulted her a number of times.
 ::snipping2::
All 3 defendants are due back in court Thursday, when a judge will decide if there's enough evidence to order trials.

40-year-old Chad Chritton and his 42-year-old wife Melinda are charged with reckless endangerment, felony child abuse, and misdemeanor child neglect.

The step-brother, 18-year-old Joshua Drabek, is charged with sexual assault and child abuse.

[MuffyBee]

http://fox6now.com/2012/02/23/father-stepmother-stepbrother-charged-with-abuse-due-in-court/
Hearings postponed for father, stepmother accused of abuse
by Ben Handelman
February 23, 2012

MADISON — A Dane County judge postponed preliminary hearings Thursday for the father and stepmother of severely malnourished Madison girl and canceled one for the girl’s stepbrother, who waived his right to the preliminary hearing.
 ::snipping2::
The father and stepmother have been charged with child abuse, reckless endangerment and child neglect. The 18-year-old stepbrother, Joshua Drabek, has been charged with sexually assaulting the girl.
 ::snipping2::
Preliminary hearings were set for Thursday for all three, but Judge Amy Smith postponed the proceedings for the father and stepmother because neither has hired an attorney yet.

In court Thursday, Chritton said he’d like to help investigators. “I’ve been wanting to sit with police to help their investigation, but because of my learning disability and comprehension disabilities, I wanted to have an attorney present,” Chritton said.

The judge granted Chritton and Drabek-Chritton another week to find attorneys. Drabek-Chritton wiped away tears as she was wheeled into the courtroom.

The stepbrother waived his right to his hearing. His attorney declined to comment.
Video at Link

[MuffyBee]

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/preliminary-hearings-delayed-in-alleged-teen-torture-case/article_f463be10-5e47-11e1-a6d9-001871e3ce6c.html
Preliminary hearings delayed in alleged teen torture case
February 23, 2012

MADISON — Preliminary hearings against the father and stepmother of a 15-year-old girl who police say was confined to a Southeast Side basement were delayed Thursday while they sought county-appointed lawyers, while the girl's stepbrother waived his right to a hearing.

Chad G. Chritton, 40, and Melinda J. Drabek-Chritton, 42, both told Dane County Circuit Judge Amy Smith that they need more time to get lawyers after they were turned down for representation by the State Public Defender's Office.

The reasons for the denials were not immediately clear, but it is possible that because Drabek-Chritton's son, Joshua P. Drabek, 18, was given public defender representation the office could not appoint lawyers for Chritton and Drabek-Chritton because of a conflict of interest.

It is also possible that they have too many assets to qualify for a public defender. Drabek-Chritton is a homeowner, having purchased the home at 4609 Treichel St. from Habitat for Humanity.

Chritton and Drabek-Chritton are now applying for county-appointed lawyers.

During his court appearance, Chritton said the lack of an attorney has prevented his cooperation with police and prosecutors.

"I've been wanting to sit with the police to help them with the investigation but because of my learning disability I want to have an attorney present," he said. He did not say specifically what his learning disability is.

Drabek waived his right Thursday to a preliminary hearing on charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child, sexual assault of a child and child abuse.
More...

[Sister]

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/preliminary-hearings-delayed-in-alleged-teen-torture-case/article_f463be10-5e47-11e1-a6d9-001871e3ce6c.html
Preliminary hearings delayed in alleged teen torture case
February 23, 2012

MADISON — Preliminary hearings against the father and stepmother of a 15-year-old girl who police say was confined to a Southeast Side basement were delayed Thursday while they sought county-appointed lawyers, while the girl's stepbrother waived his right to a hearing.

Chad G. Chritton, 40, and Melinda J. Drabek-Chritton, 42, both told Dane County Circuit Judge Amy Smith that they need more time to get lawyers after they were turned down for representation by the State Public Defender's Office.

The reasons for the denials were not immediately clear, but it is possible that because Drabek-Chritton's son, Joshua P. Drabek, 18, was given public defender representation the office could not appoint lawyers for Chritton and Drabek-Chritton because of a conflict of interest.

It is also possible that they have too many assets to qualify for a public defender. Drabek-Chritton is a homeowner, having purchased the home at 4609 Treichel St. from Habitat for Humanity.

Chritton and Drabek-Chritton are now applying for county-appointed lawyers.

During his court appearance, Chritton said the lack of an attorney has prevented his cooperation with police and prosecutors.

"I've been wanting to sit with the police to help them with the investigation but because of my learning disability I want to have an attorney present," he said. He did not say specifically what his learning disability is.

Drabek waived his right Thursday to a preliminary hearing on charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child, sexual assault of a child and child abuse.
More...

BBM
What kind of learning disability who cause someone to keep a child in the basement and starve her while allowing the step-son to sexually abuse her?
I'm all for learning new things . . . I bet this will be a gem  NOT!

[MuffyBee]

http://www.channel3000.com/news/30580397/detail.html
Couple Accused Of Abusing, Starving Teen Seek Lower Bail
Couple, Victim's Stepbrother Accused Of Abusing Teen
March 1, 2012

MADISON, Wis. -- The attorneys for a Madison couple accused of torturing and starving the man's 15-year-old daughter have asked a judge to lower their clients' bail.

The father also asked to be tried in absentia. His request filed this week doesn't explain why, and his attorney didn't immediately return a message Thursday.

Cash bond has been set at $22,500 for the father and $30,000 for the stepmother. In court filings, their attorneys say neither defendant is a flight risk and neither has a criminal record.
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://fox6now.com/2012/03/01/madison-womans-lawyer-says-avoid-rush-to-judgment/
Madison woman’s lawyer says avoid rush to judgment
By Cary Docter
March 1, 2012

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The lawyer for a Madison woman accused of starving her 15-year-old stepdaughter has asked that people avoid an unfair rush to judgment.

Attorney Thomas J. McClure says Melinda Drabek-Chritton and her husband, Chad Chritton, are good people who have been unfairly characterized by an incomplete investigation. He tells The Associated Press that when the truth comes out, the public will find a “very different situation” than the way events have been presented thus far.
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/request-to-reduce-bail-denied-for-family-accused-of-keeping/article_34b61bb6-64bf-11e1-9a16-001871e3ce6c.html
Request to reduce bail denied for family accused of keeping starved girl in basement
ED TRELEVEN | Wisconsin State Journal
March 3, 2012

A Dane County judge decided Friday that bail wouldn't change for a Madison couple charged with keeping a badly malnourished 15-year-old girl in the basement of their home.

In addition, the lawyer for the girl's father, Chad Chritton, 40, said that he believes that a lock and alarm mechanism on the door to the basement in the home was required by some government authority to be installed.

But the lawyer, William Hayes, did not elaborate on his claim, which was made during a half-hour-long hearing that focused mainly on whether Chritton and his wife, Melinda Drabek-Chritton, 42, would be granted reduced bail or signature bonds.

Circuit Judge Amy Smith kept bail for Chritton at $22,500 and $30,000 for Drabek-Chritton. Both remain in the Dane County Jail.
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Hayes said the family has been cooperative with authorities in the past, mainly surrounding a prior criminal case involving co-defendant Joshua Drabek, 18, who is Drabek-Chritton's son.
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Assistant District Attorney Matthew Moeser countered in court that it was "just not true" that the couple has been cooperative with authorities in the past and said that both have acted deliberately to frustrate human services and police in the past.

Moeser said the case remains under investigation and that new information only continues to strengthen the case. Ozanne said more charges could be brought after a preliminary hearing is held on March 13. The highlight of that hearing is likely to be video of a two-hour police interview with the girl.
 ::snipping2::

[Sister]

I hope new charges are filed as 11 years and 3 months does not begin to atone for what they did to this precious child.  Although the only thing I can think of to atone would be if they were given the same treatment they gave the girl.
 

[MuffyBee]

I hope new charges are filed as 11 years and 3 months does not begin to atone for what they did to this precious child.  Although the only thing I can think of to atone would be if they were given the same treatment they gave the girl.
 

ITA with you Sister. 

[MuffyBee]

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/142547545.html
Video released of tortured Madison teen talking to police
By the WTMJ News Team & Tom Murray
March 13, 2012

MADISON - The judge in a torture case of a Madison teen girl has released video of her interview with police.
 
The two-hour video shows the 15-year-old girl speaking with a soft, high, raspy voice to a detective.
 
She says her stepmother physically assaulted her and withheld food, and that she was confined in the basement of the family's Madison home

The video shows a small room. The police detective sits on the left side of the screen. The 70-pound, underweight 15-year-old girl is the right. Investigators say she is the victim of prolonged torture in her own home.

More...
Parital transcript & a video at link.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.channel3000.com/news/30691349/detail.html
Starved Teen Case Bound Over For Trial
Doctor Diagnosed 15-Year-Old As Torture Victim
March 17, 2012

MADISON, Wis. -- The case involving a Madison couple accused of starving and torturing the man's 15-year-old daughter will go to trial.

The hearing was held on Friday afternoon. It began Tuesday, but it was postponed because the prosecution's lead witness had a sick child.
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The girl's father, Chad Chritton, and stepmother, Melinda J. Drabek-Chritton, are accused of abusing the girl over a five-year period. Both appeared at the hearing.
Attorney William Hayes, who represented the father, objected multiple times during Knox's hour-long testimony. He has hinted that he questions the girl's mental health. He said he reviewed her story "and the word 'rubbish' came to mind."

The defense argued the young girl was mentally ill and tried to harm herself. He said that the couple had tried to get medical help for her before.

Meanwhile, Mike Vega, the Madison man who found the 15-year-old alleged victim walking along the road in early February, said he was relieved the case was moving forward.
 ::snipping2::
A preliminary hearing gave the judge an opportunity to decide whether there's enough evidence to warrant a trial. Judge Amy Smith didn't set a trial date, instead binding over the case to Judge Julie Genovese's courtroom.

The third suspect, the victim's stepbrother, Joshua Drabek, waived his aright to a preliminary hearing and is due back in court later in March. He is accused of sexually abusing the girl.
Video at Link

[MuffyBee]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/father-stepmother-of-starved--year-old-girl-ordered-to/article_570f6c98-6fc9-11e1-9dfa-0019bb2963f4.html
Father, stepmother of starved 15-year-old girl ordered to stand trial
ED TRELEVEN | Wisconsin State Journal
March 16, 2012

The father and stepmother of a 15-year-old girl who was found badly malnourished, barefoot and wearing only pajamas outdoors last month were ordered to stand trial Friday after a child abuse expert testified that she suffered from serial child torture.

Dr. Barbara Knox, a child abuse expert at American Family Children's Hospital, said the girl suffered from chronic starvation so severe that she had the weight of the average 9-year-old and the height of the average 11-year-old.

In addition to being starved, the girl suffered from serial child torture, she said.

District Attorney Ismael Ozanne now has 30 days to file the charges that he intends to take to trial, and once that is done Chad Chritton, 40, and Melinda Drabek-Chritton, 42, will enter formal pleas to those charges. That will be done before Dane County Circuit Judge Julie Genovese, the trial judge in the case.

For now, they are charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, child abuse and child neglect. The girl's stepbrother, Joshua Drabek, who waived his right to a preliminary hearing, is charged with two counts of child sexual assault and child abuse and will be arraigned on Thursday.
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[MuffyBee]

These two so called parents shouldn't even be allowed to have a goldfish, let have custody of their children.  JMHO 

http://www.wqow.com/story/17212657/stepmother-of-starved-teen-fights-to-keep-other-children
Stepmother of starved teen fights to keep other children
March 21, 2012

MADISON (WKOW) -- A stepmother charged with child abuse in connection to her teenage stepdaughter's starvation and serial torture is trying to keep her two younger children from being placed in another home.

At a juvenile court hearing Wednesday, Melinda Drabek-Chritton denied her two younger children were in need of protective services.
 ::snipping2::
Dane County Judge Shelley Gaylord scheduled future hearings to determine the placement of Drabek-Chritton's two younger children, and Chritton's 15-year-old daughter.

The teenager's attorney indicated the girl is currently in a foster home.

Drabek-Chritton's oldest child, 18-year-old Joshua Drabek is charged with the alleged, repeated sexual assault of his younger stepsister.

[MuffyBee]

http://fox6now.com/2012/03/22/joshua-drabek-expected-to-enter-plea/
Joshua Drabek will stand trial for sexual assault of stepsister
By Trisha Bee
March 22, 2012




MADISON — Joshua Drabek, the man accused of sexually assaulting his 15-year-old stepsister is expected to enter a plea in court Thursday. 18-year-old Drabek is charged in connection to the case of child abuse involving the teen girl in Madison.

Drabek waved his right to a preliminary hearing and will stand trial in the case. Drabek was charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting the girl, beginning around her 10th birthday.
 ::snipping2::

[Sister]

http://fox6now.com/2012/03/22/joshua-drabek-expected-to-enter-plea/
Joshua Drabek will stand trial for sexual assault of stepsister
By Trisha Bee
March 22, 2012




MADISON — Joshua Drabek, the man accused of sexually assaulting his 15-year-old stepsister is expected to enter a plea in court Thursday. 18-year-old Drabek is charged in connection to the case of child abuse involving the teen girl in Madison.

Drabek waved his right to a preliminary hearing and will stand trial in the case. Drabek was charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting the girl, beginning around her 10th birthday.
 ::snipping2::

This is just so sickening!

[MuffyBee]

My comments in green. 

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/04/01/Wis-torture-house-had-history-with-cops/UPI-44051333306546/
Wis. 'torture house' had history with cops
April 1, 2012

MADISON, Wis., April 1 (UPI) -- Officers were called several times to the Wisconsin house where a couple allegedly tortured, sexually abused and starved a 15-year-old girl, police records say.

The girl -- whose father, Chad Chritton, and step-mother, Melinda Drabek-Chritton, have been charged with reckless endangerment, child abuse and child neglect -- had twice been seen by passersby outside the family's Madison home skinny and barefoot, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Saturday. She weighed 70 pounds by the time she escaped Feb. 6, a police affidavit said.

Police released records of at least 10 instances between March 2007 and August 2011 when they visited the home for a variety of calls.

One woman called police in January 2011 to report seeing the girl outside the home barefoot in the cold. Two officers responded, but when no one answered their knocks at the door, they left, ending the investigation. By that time, Dane County child protective services had received six phone calls concerning the young girl.

"Based on what facts were given to the officers, we believe they acted appropriately," Madison Police Capt. Sue Williams said. "There is nothing to indicate more should have been done."  What?!!  Really?!  Really?!