Police charge caregivers for holding 7 in basement of home...
By Feona1962
@Feona1962 (7526)
United States
September 20, 2007 5:08pm CST
Harrisburg, PA..."Five adopted children and two care-dependent women were locked inside a basement, weren't adequately fed and were forced to endure improper sanitation by a couple being paid $9,000 a month to care for them, police said."......
"Conditions included a locked and unlit 4-foot-by-5-foot cinderblock cell where a 14-yr-old boy spent more than 20 hours a day beneath the 6 foot high plywood ceiling...He slept on concrete with only a blanket..".....
"Others were locked in a room for punishment.".....Ages 15, 14, 14, 12, and 6, and the women were 54 and 57....with three of the children and both adults as having "mental/physical" disabilities."....
This is so wrong...someone can pay me $9000.00 a month to care for people and they would get darn good care...I am just appalled that they got away with it for so long...The 5 boys were adopted starting in 1998 and the women were placed in 1992 and 1995....
"Breakfast was peanut butter sandwiches and dinner was a crock pot meal called "doggie dew stew."..made by Stephanie Dickinson....the victims were never allowed to come upstairs.."
"James Gordon Dickinson, 61, and Stephanie Lutz Dickinson, 57, remained in the Lancaster County Prison on Wednesday after bail for each was set at $500,000."....
Just sickening....I am so glad they were found...A guy that was renting an apartment in the same building alerted the police....
Times Observer, Thursday September 20, 2007
4 people like this
10 responses
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
21 Sep 07
OMG! thats absolutely INSANE!! Those poor children and women! This went on for over 10 YRS?!?! How in the hell did that happen?!?! How is it nobody knew before now and why during that time were the children and women never checked up on???? I think not only the couple should have the book thrown at htem but whoever the caseworker was should ASLO be charged IMO..
2 people like this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I know it just makes me sick to think of all this time and no home visits or nothing...that I am aware of...but still...This should not be happening...I agree about the caseworker too!
@prettygirl_80650 (306)
• United States
21 Sep 07
and i wonder what they were doing with the money. This makes it hard for loving parents to actually adopt. I think they need stricter rules for adopting or being in the foster care business because im reading about this more and more each year.
2 people like this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I know it is a nightmare...I can only imagine what they were doing with the money..Thank you for your response..
1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
20 Sep 07
it makes you wonder what this world has become, I sometimes think with the pure insensitivity the human race has hit rock bottom, we have always said we are superior to all other animals, well I think we have proven this is not the case...
2 people like this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Yes, it is a very sad situation..What is happening to society? Money hungry I guess.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
21 Sep 07
In Canada, when we wanted to adopt a baby girl, we were put through a battery of tests, and because there were so many couples, the qualifications went up so only the best of the best could get a baby then. However with children who have mental and physical disabilities, the qualifications are not so strict.
That does upset me. A mentally or physically disabled child's adopted parents should be held to a stricter standard and even so, no one should be allowed to adopt until they are mentally able and mature and loving enough, to adopt or foster a child. Children are not cash cows.
2 people like this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I agree and why weren't home visits ever done..It is very disturbing.
1 person likes this
@Lifez2short (4962)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I live right around the corner from where this horrible thing took place. I also posted a discussion about it. I think it is horrible what they did to those children and 2 elderly adults. Believe me nobody it the city knew it was going on. And when it was discovered we were all shocked. And the fact that it took them almost a year to charge the pair is a shock as well. I heart and prayers go out to the child and adults involved in horrible crime. I pray that the kids are now in better homes and are being taking care the right way.
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1281491.aspx
The link to my discussion if you would like to read it as well.
@Lifez2short (4962)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Don't worry about it hun looks like your is more interesting anyway...lol
The D.A. says he took a year to charge them so he could gather more evidence. I guess they were not a flight risk.
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Thank you Life...I am glad they are getting all the evidence they need..I would say that is extremely important to how they are going to treat all the children and two women...It just makes my heart ache....I wan't to foster but I am afraid they won't let me because my hubby has alot of meds...We could lock them up....
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
Thank you for the link and I just want to say I am sorry for overlapping your post..I just put my mylot checker on and must have missed checking to see if this had been posted..Again I am sorry...It is something that no one knew and that it took a year to charge them..What was up with that?...Horrible...I pray that everyone is in a nice, loving, nuturing home and they can heal....Thank you Life...
1 person likes this
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
21 Sep 07
well the only thing i can say is my heart goes out to them,what a sad story.i guess people will do anything for money which is so sad.hugs,pattie
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
27 Sep 07
This kind of treatment of dependent children and disabled people make ,e so angry. I just don't understan how these social service departments can let thise kind of thing go on for yearsd. I do understand that the workers have huge case loads but still not to check on the clients more often is rediculious. There was a case in Florida where a little girl got completely lost doe to the system. I don't know if they ever found her. These people should have to live like they forced their charges to live for at lease as long as the longest child had to live in the conditions they did.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
21 Sep 07
That is so sick and very very sad. I feel for those children and I'm glad someone had the guts to report it. The scoundrels should get lots of time in jail!
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
It is a nightmare. I would love to foster but I am not sure with my hubby having his meds here if they would let us...
@fiestyjesica (136)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I can't believe this. Don't they have social workers checking up on these people to make sure those placed are being properly taken care of? Thank god they were found out!! They should have to repay all that money on top of whatever their punishment is. (I won't say what i think it should be)
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
21 Sep 07
I understand...I would have thought someone would have to check on them also....
