The KLUTH Children - 9, 11, 15 - Yukon (W of OK City) OK

Yukon Parents Accused of Child Abuse, Feeding Children Dog, Cat Food

Feb 24, 2011 3:29 PM EST



News9.com

YUKON, Oklahoma – The Canadian County District Attorney has filed child abuse and child neglect charges against two Yukon adoptive parents.

Sonja and John Kluth are facing three counts each of child abuse and three counts each of child neglect for allegedly abusing their two adopted sons and one adopted daughter.

"They've been abused just about every way imaginable, they've been burned, cut, beat," said Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards.

Sonja Kluth is accused of strangling, beating, assaulting and burning her 15-year-old son. She is also accused of beating and strangling her 11-year-old adopted son and nine-year-old adopted daughter.

The nine-year-old girl told investigators her mom would bang their heads on the doors, walls and bathroom counter tops. One of the boys showed an investigator his disfigured fingers and said one was from being smashed with the can opener, the other a mallet.

John Kluth is accused of punching, choking and whipping the 15-year-old and spanking and striking the 11 year-old and nine-year-old. He is also accused of not adequately protecting the children from the abuse inflicted on them by his wife, Sonja, while they lived in a home in the 1100 block of N. Cimarron Road.

"The husband has shown signs of outward guilt and remorse," said the sheriff. "The adoptive mother insists that's the way you gain control and discipline children."

According to the affidavit, both parents locked the children in an underground storm shelter and failed to provide them with adequate food or proper sanitation. The children at times were also only fed dog or cat food. The affidavit also states the 15-year-old was confined to a small dog crate.

"The 15-year-old boy could easily pass as a 10-year old, that's how thin and frail he was as a result of being malnourished," said Sheriff Edwards.

The sheriff said they discovered the abuse, which may have gone on up to five years, after the oldest boy was found sleeping in a box behind a Braum's.

The Kluths were reportedly being paid $1,500 per month per child by the state of Wisconsin.

"These people were basically out just for the money. They weren't out for taking care of these kids," said the Kluths' biological son Bill.

Bill Kluth said he's not shocked by the allegations. In fact, he said, he stopped talking to his parents six years ago after he saw how they were treating the kids.

"They were just put on a regimen where you can't talk to the kid, you can't love the kid, you can't say anything to the kid. The kids always had to sit in the corner, so we knew things weren't right," Bill Kluth said.

John and Sonja Kluth have both bonded out of jail.

Is there any update on this case? I couldn't find where there's a court date but found an article at badbreeders.net that says they are out on $9000 bond each. How sad that they are free for such a small bond while those poor kids were caged and treated worse than dogs for years. What is this world coming to?

Re: John Kluth

08-23-2011	CTFREE	-		6496721	Aug 25 2011 12:59:20:313PM	-	$ 0.00
	CRT MIN. THIS COMES ON TODAY FOR DISTRICT CRT ARRAIGNMENT. THE DEFT APPEARS W/HIS ATTY OF RECORD BILL JAMES; PAUL HESSE FOR THE STATE. THE CRT IS ADVISED THE DEFT'S RCV'D A COPY OF THE INFORMATION, WAIVES READING OF SAME, ENTERS A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY, RESERVING TIME FOR ADDITIONAL PLEAS. THE CRT SETS MOTION HRGS FOR SEPT. 20 @ 1:30, CALL DOCKET FOR OCT. 25 @ 9AM, TRIAL DOCKET NOV. 14 @ 9AM. JUDGE MILLER

WARRANT OF ARREST ISSUED, JUDGE: JACK MCCURDY - BOND AMOUNT:
COUNT 1 - CHILD ABUSE - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 2 - CHILD NEGLECT - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 3 - CHILD ABUSE - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 4 - CHILD NEGLECT - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 5 - CHILD ABUSE - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 6 - CHILD NEGLECT - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00

For future reference, this is a link to his case> http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=266877&db=Canadian

Re: Sonja Kluth

08-23-2011	CTFREE	-		6496739	Aug 25 2011 1:04:01:943PM	-	$ 0.00
	CRT MIN. THIS COMES ON FOR DISTRICT CRT ARRAIGNMENT. THE DEFT APPEARS WITH BILL JAMES. THE DEFT ADVISES THE CRT SHE HAS RCV'D A COPY OF THE INFORMATION, WAIVES READING OF SAME, ENTERS A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY, RESERVING ADDITIONAL TIME FOR PLEAS. THE CRT ACCEPTS THAT PLEA, SETS MOTIONS HRG FOR SEPT. 20 @ 1:30, CALL DOCKET OCT. 25 @ 9AM, TRIAL DOCKET NOV. 14 @ 9AM. JUDGE MILLER

WARRANT OF ARREST ISSUED, JUDGE: JACK MCCURDY - BOND AMOUNT:
COUNT 1 - CHILD ABUSE - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 2 - CHILD NEGLECT - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 3 - CHILD ABUSE - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 4 - CHILD NEGLECT - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 5 - CHILD ABUSE - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00
COUNT 6 - CHILD NEGLECT - BOND AMOUNT: $1,500.00


Here's the link for further updates> http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=266879&db=Canadian

How did I do Mermaid?

Thanks Tom for the update. I hope these monsters don't get off. Did you see the letter admitted to the court by a "Sam B."? They say this family needs to be put back together and receive support! Why would such a letter even be allowed? If it is, then it seems to me thousands should be writing the Judge and complaining that these animals should be locked up for years like those poor kids. The letter is references as: LETTER TO JUDGE DATED 7/1/2011 FILED (COPY IN CF-2011-67)

Here's the link to that letter> http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/getimage.tif?submitted=true&casemasterid=266879&db=CANADIAN&barcode=1015745565

Obviously written by one of John's cronies.
Judging by the misspellings and improper use of the language I would expect that the judge would "round file" this support letter.

Yes the grammar was awful. I was surprised something like that would even be admitted. I hope the Kluth's bio children will write letters to the court and even better testify how they were raised. According to articles, one has said his parents were abusers to them and that they only adopted these 3 kids for the money.

I was surprised something like that would even be admitted.

---Not me. The court is required to accept and file all pertinent materials submitted in any case. That doesn't mean they have to believe them or that they will be submitted as evidence.

The trial for a Yukon couple accused in a
disturbing case of child abuse and neglect is scheduled to begin on Monday.

John and Sonja Kluth face a number of
charges for allegedly abusing their two adopted sons and one adopted daughter.

Canadian County officials say the couple
burned, beat and cut the children and locked them in an underground storm
shelter. They also allegedly fed them dog and cat food.

The abuse was discovered when one of the
boys was found sleeping in a box behind a restaurant.
http://www.newson6.com/story/18159631/trial-for-yukon-couple-accused-of-child-abuse-to-begin-monday

Trial Begins For Child Abuse Case Against Yukon Couple

Posted: Jun 11, 2012 6:55 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 11, 2012 6:55 PM CDT
By Lisa Monahan, News 9

YUKON, Oklahoma -

Jury trial begins for the child abuse case against a Yukon couple. John and Sonja Kluth are accused of beating, burning, and cutting their 3 adopted children.

2/24/2011 Related Story: Yukon Couple Accused Of Beating, Burning Kids Now Free On Bond

The Kluths are each charged with six counts of child abuse and neglect. Court Documents show investigators began looking into abuse allegations in November 2010 when the Kluths' adoptive child was found bruised, malnourished, and sleeping in a box behind a restaurant in northwest Oklahoma City.

From a pool of 55 potential jurors, eight women and four men will hear the evidence in the case. Prosecutors warned the jurors the allegation could be difficult to hear.

Some of the accusations include locking the children in an underground storm shelter, feeding them dog food, and putting them in dog crates as punishment.

Prosecutors addressed the jurors for any concerns to be impartial due to their beliefs on subjects like corporal punishment and the Department of Human Services.

The judge excused at least one adoptive parent and a foster parent from jury duty. The majority of the jury is made up of parents. Jurors will return Tuesday, June 12 to hear opening arguments in the case.

http://www.news9.com/story/18760755/trial-begins-for-child-abuse-case-against-yukon-couple

Ok, so their bio son knew things were wrong and just stopped talking to the parents? If he had reported possible abuse earlier, these kids may have been saved sooner. I hope these people get the max sentence and I pray the max sentence isn't a joke.

Gingernlw wrote:Ok, so their bio son knew things were wrong and just stopped talking to the parents? If he had reported possible abuse earlier, these kids may have been saved sooner. I hope these people get the max sentence and I pray the max sentence isn't a joke.

I was thinking the same thing Ginger. If he saw the abuse, why didn't he report it?? He's guilty of not protecting those children and not getting them out of harm's way.

So_Cal wrote:

Gingernlw wrote:Ok, so their bio son knew things were wrong and just stopped talking to the parents? If he had reported possible abuse earlier, these kids may have been saved sooner. I hope these people get the max sentence and I pray the max sentence isn't a joke.

I was thinking the same thing Ginger. If he saw the abuse, why didn't he report it?? He's guilty of not protecting those children and not getting them out of harm's way.

I agree and thought the same. Why didn't the older son do anything? Just doesn't make sense.

So_Cal wrote:

Gingernlw wrote:Ok, so their bio son knew things were wrong and just stopped talking to the parents? If he had reported possible abuse earlier, these kids may have been saved sooner. I hope these people get the max sentence and I pray the max sentence isn't a joke.

I was thinking the same thing Ginger. If he saw the abuse, why didn't he report it?? He's guilty of not protecting those children and not getting them out of harm's way.

I wonder how old this bio son is... ? He has to be an adult. He could have saved those children 6 years of pain and suffering. Interesting how he calls them "people" out trying to make money instead of "my parents."

Yukon couple sentenced in abuse case

Sonja Kluth has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of abusing her three adopted children. Her husband, John Kluth, will serve 20 years in prison. The Yukon couple were convicted of child abuse and child neglect in June.

FROM STAFF REPORTS | Published: July 25, 2012

EL RENO — A Yukon woman has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of abusing her three adopted children. Her husband will serve 20 years in prison.

Sonja Kluth and John Kluth, of Yukon, were found guilty of child abuse and child neglect June 18.

Sonja Kluth, 59, was sentenced to life in prison for the child abuse of the oldest son, and 25 years each on five other child abuse and neglect charges. John Kluth, 58, will serve 10-year sentences consecutively on counts of child abuse and child neglect, but three other 10-year sentences will be served concurrently, court records show.

The sentences were consistent with the jury's recommendations.

The couple beat, choked and burned the children — ages 16, 13 and 10 — who testified they weren't given adequate shelter, sanitation or medical treatment. Testimony showed the children were kept in the parents' underground storm cellar and at times kept in dog crates, said Paul Hesse, assistant district attorney.

The abuse became known after the oldest boy ran away and authorities found him sleeping in a box behind a Braum's in Oklahoma City. The teen has large scars over his body, a broken finger from being struck with a mallet, scars on his chest from where he was stabbed with a small knife, and scars on his hands from where he was whipped, Hesse said.

All three children now live with foster families.

Read more: http://newsok.com/yukon-couple-sentenced-in-abuse-case/article/3695590#ixzz21kmhcdQM