UNNAMED SISTERS - 2 and 6 yo/ Accused: Parents; Kayela McClintock and Jeremiah Coleman and Babysitter; JoAnn Brown - San antonio TX

Parents, baby sitter jailed, little girls with signs of starvation, malnutrition

Published: 7/31 5:38 pm
Updated: 7:50 am

SAN ANTONIO - Three people are in jail - accused of child abuse after police found two little girls showing signs of starvation, malnutrition, and injuries.

Police arrested mom Kayela McClintick, dad Jeremiah Coleman, and baby sister JoAnn Brown. Police say the three suspects are each facing two counts each of child abuse.

Investigators said they first found a starving 2-year-old girl, but couldn't find her older sister after repeated visits to the home. The six-year-old told officers she was forced to hide in a closet for hours at a time.

“She also told investigators anytime she went to the refrigerator she would be punished, and her sister was only able to eat one time a day,” explained Officer Matt Porter from the San Antonio Police Department.

According to the arrest warrant the 6-year-old child also told Child Protective Services her mom and the baby sister would quote "dance and perform for men at the home while she and her sister would hide in the closet, " end quote.

Police say the babysitter faces charges because she knew about the abuse and didn't report it.

The children are currently is CPS custody. A hearing will be held on August 13th to determine where the little girls will reside.

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Parents-baby-sitter-jailed-little-girls-with/m-7pjB5d6UeBkuqoA00u_g.cspx

Wow, I'm surprised but thrilled that they are charging the babysitter because she knew about the abuse and didn't report it. Go San Antonio LE.

Neighbors shocked by child starvation case
People in NW side neighborhood didn’t know there were children there

Author: Katrina Webber, Reporter, kwebber@ksat.com
Published On: Aug 01 2012 06:04:02 PM CDT
Updated On: Aug 01 2012 06:37:19 PM CDT

SAN ANTONIO - The arrests of three people on the Northwest side in connection with a child starvation case has come as a shock to their neighbors.

Most people who live along the quiet street said they weren’t even aware there were any children living in the home with Jeremiah Coleman, 29, and Kayela McClintick, 22 (not pictured).

The couple, along with their alleged live-in babysitter, Joann Denise Brown, 22, were arrested Tuesday on two counts each of injury to a child.

"I didn't see any children. I saw children's toys around,” said Brady Patton, who lives two doors down.

An arrest affidavit said police and Child Protective Services had gone to the home after receiving a tip about children who appeared to be neglected. They said during one of those visits, they found the two year old daughter of McClintick and Coleman, and that she appeared to be malnourished.

The affidavit said a doctor examined the girl and found that she had clumps of hair missing, was malnourished and appeared gaunt.

Officers along with CPS workers had to make several trips to the home before they found McClintick’s 6-year-old daughter, who also appeared malnourished, the affidavit stated. Investigators said the older child told them she would often sneak and get food to feed her two year old sister.

They said the 6-year-old told them she and her sister often were kept in a closet, the affidavit stated.

"That's awful. I mean, that's deplorable. I can't believe that would happen," Patton said.

Another neighbor, Virginia Lucio, said she only caught glimpses of the couple who often entered and exited their home through the garage.

She said had no idea they had children, and was more focused on their pitbull puppies who also appeared to be underfed.

“We didn't even know that there were kids there,” Lucio said. “I was here worrying about the dogs, and we didn't even know there were kids even living there."

However, Lucio said she did notice the recent visits from police officers and CPS workers. She said she had an enlightening conversation recently with the couple’s landlords.

"They said that there was nothing in (the house), that the kids didn't even have a bed to sleep on, furniture, nothing," she said. “They had only a TV and a couch.”

Police, though, said that they found much more inside the home — evidence of an escort service. They said the 6-year-old girl also told them both McClintick and Brown would strip for men who came to the home, while making the children hide in a closet.

All three suspects were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday morning, an official at the Bexar County jail said Coleman was due to be released later in the day after posting a $60,000 bond.

http://www.ksat.com/news/Neighbors-shocked-by-child-starvation-case/-/478452/15927580/-/12ry8n5z/-/index.html

What is going on with all these cases of locking children in closets for years and starving them? Why do they keep having babies when they don't even want them. Lord have mercy, this is outrageous. Why don't these idiots get fixed and quit producing babies they don't want and just abuse?

You know, I ask that all the time. It must be some kind of control issue. I mean, they are clearly out of control in the rest of their lives... by forcing kids to do what they want when they want and only allowing them food on their terms, it just has to be a control issues. I don't understand it.

I don't understand it either. If they don't want the kids give them up. There are people out there that have love in their hearts even for kids not there own. I don't think it's control. They want to kill them. They don't have any love or kindness toward them at all. In my opinion they should NEVER get out of jail and they should be sterlized.

William