Young, obese girls taken from filthy, bug-ridden home

[Liberal_in_LA]

Young, obese girls taken from filthy, bug-ridden home

By Samira J. Simone, CNN
August 20, 2010 8:46 p.m. EDT

James and Anne Cardona of Marietta, Georgia, were charged with second-degree child cruelty, police said.

Police found the two young Georgia girls covered in filth and bug bites
The 5-year-old girl weighs 158 pounds; 4-year-old weighs 89 pounds
Their parents have been charged with child cruelty, a felony

Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- When police walked into the home, they found a 5-year-old girl weighing nearly 160 pounds, her teeth rotting, her skin covered in spider bites. Her 4-year-old sister was lying on a filthy mattress, wearing only a urine-soaked diaper.

Police were responding to a domestic dispute call at the Marietta, Georgia, house Monday when they encountered the shocking scene. They called in child abuse investigators, and ultimately arrested the parents, James and Anne Cardona, charging both with second-degree child cruelty, Cobb County police spokesman Joe Hernandez said.

The children are now in the state custody. Their parents were released on bond, but Anne Cardona was arrested again late Thursday for giving "misleading information" to a magistrate judge at the couple's first court appearance Tuesday, said Col. Milton Beck of the Cobb County sheriff's department.

She remained in jail Friday without bond until further notice from court, he said. Attempts to reach her husband were unsuccessful Friday, and it wasn't immediately clear whether they had retained legal counsel.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/20/georgia.child.cruelty/index.html?hpt=T2

[applegrove]

1. That is so sad. Who could believe that could happen in this day and age.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I could but I have seen scenes like that

I wish I was still innocent to be honest.

[Supply Side Jesus]

3. ya... that stuff never leaves you...

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Nope, and when it is parents

it is one thing. When it is brother inflicted... ooh boy.

[applegrove]

4. I'm glad I've never seen child abuse.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Thank your lucky stars

about both child and elderly abuse. Both can be horrific. Though if you have older parents and you have to, perish the thought, send them to elder care... keep your eyes open and your ears open. It happens.

[Withywindle]

5. How does this happen? I don't understand.

158 pounds at age 5?

When I was 5, I don't know how much I weighed, but my mom, who is about 5'4" and weighs about 110, last we talked, could certainly still lift me easily.

How does this HAPPEN? How can a 5-year-old exceed the weight of many full-grown adults? (Hell, that's probably only about 25-30 lbs off from what my DAD weighs, and he's 6'4")

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I am betting on all kinds of deficiencies

those kids were not drinking milk and eating vegies and fruit... that I can bet.

But here is a hint of how this happens... a kid that is fed soda every day (rotting teeth was the dead give away), and fed pastries, and chips... you can get a LOT of calories that are mostly empty.

[Withywindle]

9. But it sounds like this child never MOVED.

Or was allowed to...

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. that is also part of it

kids on dirty mattress was kind of the other give away.

Good news they are young enough where you can work with them. Bad news, they are old enough where they will remember. And they will need, just for starters, a lot of dental work. You and I know what going to the dentist is in the best of circumstances.

[Withywindle]

11. Oh yeah.

I know I need massive dental work I just can't afford. This child is lucky that the ruined teeth are still baby teeth--I guess.

I know the issues go much deeper. And the parents were obviously vastly not equipped for the job---how we will ever go about undoing the damage the Reagan era did, when it comes to providing at least some services for the obviously mentally ill?

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I don't know but I sincerely hope

the cycle breaks with these two kids.

[Withywindle]

13. I hope the parents get real serious help.

I'm not optimistic, though. seems like you only get your "miracle" if you're willing to lay yourself out naked on reality TV

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Sadly that is the modern US

nah, they will be punished, and jail will not do them a bit of good. We no longer try to fix it, just punish.