Police in Oklahoma, have arrested a couple visiting from Texas, after a neighbor claimed the father tied his teenage daughter to a tree. Johnny James, 40, and his girlfriend, 42-year-old Kayla Clark, were taken into custody on July 28 and charged with child abuse and neglect. They are currently being held in Oklahoma's Washington County Jail awaiting a court appearance.
According to Bartlesville Radio, police arrived at the home near Vera, Oklahoma, on July 28, and found a 15-year-old girl tied to a tree. Her father reportedly gave police a horrible reason for restraining the child, and his girlfriend was apparently too "frazzled" to stop him.
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It appears the teenager was being punished.
People reported that, according to a press release obtained by the news outlet, deputies were dispatched to a home after receiving a report of a teenage girl being tied to a tree. She was reportedly secured with ratchet straps several times over three days. While investigating, police found that the family is from Texas, but was in the area visiting family when the alleged abuse took place.
The girl was reportedly sitting on a piece of carpet when police arrived.
According to the release, the 15-year-old was sitting on a piece of carpet she'd been given to sleep on. Police say her father explained that he'd tied his daughter to the tree because "the child has problems urinating and defecating while indoors, and if she was outdoors, there would not be any mess."
Police say the father told them he initially punished the girl because she said she didn't want to live with him and wanted to be with her mother.
James' girlfriend apparently didn't try to stop him.
Per the news release, Clark said she knew James tied his daughter to the tree, but she was "frazzled." She failed to call the police and report her boyfriend's actions, which led to her arrest.
Police took the couple to jail.
According to online jail records, Clark was arrested and charged with enabling child neglect. James was taken into custody and charged with abuse, neglect, and exploitation or sexual abuse of a child. They are each being held on a $500,000 bond. It is unclear if they have entered a plea or retained an attorney.
Bartlesville Radio reported the pair is scheduled to appear in court on August 9.
The teen was taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to People, the 15-year-old girl was transported to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries. Oklahoma's Department of Human Services is said to be taking custody of the teenage girl and the other children who were in the home.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
