How Could You? Hall of Shame-Lora and Aubrey Thomas UPDATED and now Garrett Thomas

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Sperry, Oklahoma, foster parents Lora Lee Thomas, 47, and Aubrey Stuart Thomas, 58, were arrested and “charged earlier this month after Osage County sheriff’s investigator Justin Kling uncovered stories of abuse [of their 4 adopted children] ranging from the children’s being forced to throw up and then eat their own vomit, to being beaten with a large paddle called “Mr. Awesome” and then made to soak in a tub loaded with ice cubes to reduce swelling from the assaults, to being forced to participate in sexual acts, according to an affidavit filed in Osage County District Court.

Lora Thomas, whose first name is spelled Laura in some records, is charged with child abuse and is being held in the Osage County Jail with bail set at $50,000. Aubrey Thomas is charged with enabling child abuse and was released from jail after posting $50,000 bond. The charges are both felonies.”

Here is what makes this case even more unbelievable: They had previously had two other foster children removed due to abuse BUT these poor children STAYED! Oklahoma DHS, what is wrong with you?

“The couple became foster parents in 2001, taking in six children when they lived in Rogers County. In 2003, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services removed two of the six children from their home in Claremore after finding evidence that they had been abused, Osage County Undersheriff Lou Ann Brown said Tuesday.

The couple kept the other four children — two girls and two boys, all now from age 13 to 15 — and moved to Osage County west of Sperry in 2006.

DHS spokesman Mark Beutler said Tuesday that the agency is cooperating with the sheriff’s investigation and is ensuring the children’s safety, but he said he could not comment on specifics of the case.

The Sheriff’s Office is still trying to unravel how and when the children were adopted and the backgrounds of the Thomases.

In October, DHS asked the Osage County Sheriff’s Office to investigate allegations of mistreatment in the Thomas household after one of the girls, who had been put into a psychiatric facility, made the allegations to a counselor, Brown said.

Kling’s affidavit says the girls, particularly, were singled out for “heinous abuse.”

The 13-year-old girl told him she was severely beaten with a wooden paddle on her feet and buttocks, according to the affidavit.

Initially, the children, all of them appearing malnourished, refused to talk to Kling, leading him to conclude that they were the victims of “extreme coaching and coercion,” the affidavit states.

Kling was able to track down a biological daughter of the Thomases who had moved away from them in 2008. She echoed the stories of beatings and of the children’s being forced to eat bar soap and dishwashing detergent, adding that if the girls urinated in their beds or clothes, they would be forced to put their soiled underwear in their mouths “so that other siblings could make fun of them,” according to the affidavit.

The document states that she also alleged that her parents had awakened the 14-year-old girl in the middle of the night then slapped her until blood flowed from her lips and nose as her mother screamed, “You’re never going to learn, are you?”

Couple charged in Osage County child abuse ‘torture’
[Tulsa World 3/14/12 by Lisa Red Corn]

“Aubrey and Laura Thomas are accused of violently beating their adopted children and forcing them to perform sex acts.

Affidavit: Osage County Couple Forced Children To Eat Vomit, Manure
[News on 6 3/14/12 by Lacie Lowry]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Oklahoma DHS, are you out of your minds to allow these children to stay in that home after 2003 and return them after the neighbor called police?

$50,000 bond? Are you kidding me?

Update: “The state’s child welfare agency is investigating a Sperry couple after they were charged with abusing their adopted children.

DHS Investigates Its Handling Of Sperry Child Abuse Case
[News on 6 3/15/12 by Lacie Lowry]

Update 2: “An Osage County couple charged with abusing their four adopted children pleaded not guilty in court Monday [January 7,2013].

The married couple who lives west of Sperry is charged with felony child abuse that investigators believe amounts to torture.

Aubrey Thomas is charged with three counts of child abuse and one count of enabling child abuse. His wife, Lora Lee Thomas, is charged with four counts of child abuse.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office came across the Thomas’ when the kids started running away and were terrified to go back home.

According to court documents, the two boys and two girls, between the ages of 13 and 15, alleged the couple withheld food from them, beat them, forced them to eat soap, vomit, and manure. The affidavit also details instances where the children were forced to perform sex acts.

Investigators say the home schooled children were coached not to say anything about the alleged abuse.

DHS says the Thomas’s became foster parents in 1997. According to sheriff’s investigators, two foster children showed signs of physical abuse and were removed from the home in 2003 when they lived in Rogers County.

Four other foster children were left in the home and were eventually adopted into the family. The Thomas’ then moved to Osage County.

A status hearing was set for January 25. DHS was directed to provide records in the case on that date.”

Sperry Couple Plead Not Guilty To Abusing Adopted Children

[News On 6 1/8/13]

Update 3/June 14,2014:

“The first two arrests came in March 2012, when two parents were charged with abusing their adopted kids. Now, the couple’s biological son is accused of preying on the same four children.

Investigators say four children endured heinous physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their adoptive mother and father inside their Sperry home. Aubrey and Lora Lee Thomas were arrested nearly two years ago.

Now, investigators say the couple’s biological son was also in on the abuse.

An affidavit says Garrett Thomas, who is now 23, was using the children for his own sexual gratification.

The children claim their adoptive brother forced them to play a game which involved them touching his anus.

An affidavit says Garrett admitted to abusing his adoptive siblings five times when he was 18. He also told investigators he would make the children play “patty cake” with his naked butt.

Investigators say, while all that was going on, the children were being subjected to even worse torture by their parents.

The children’s allegations include being forced to eat gum off of Aubrey Thomas’ penis, forced to perform oral sex on their siblings for food, forced to put urine soaked panties in their mouth if they wet the bed, forced to eat their vomit and as punishment for not cleaning a horse pen, they say they were forced to eat horse manure.

Aubrey and Lora Lee Thomas are still awaiting trial. Aubrey Thomas is charged with three counts of child abuse and one count of enabling child abuse. Lora Lee Thomas is charged with four counts of child abuse.

Garrett Thomas was arrested in Rogers County on Christmas Eve. He’s expected to be transferred to Osage County sometime Friday.

A jury trial for his parents is scheduled to begin next Tuesday.”

Son Of Sperry Pair, Accused Of Abusing Adopted Kids, Charged With Sexual Abuse[World Now by Tess Maune]

“A Sperry couple has been found guilty of abusing their adopted children in a case that has gripped many in horror.

The Osage County jury found both Aubrey Thomas and his wife, Lora Lee Thomas, guilty on four counts each of child abuse. Allegations levied against them included withholding food from the children, violently beating them, and forcing them to eat vomit and manure and perform sexual acts.

Investigators said they believe the abuse amounted to extreme torture.

Sentencing will be held March 13, but the jury recommended 40 years on each count for Aubrey Thomas and four life sentences for Lora Lee Thomas.

The home-schooled children were coached not to say anything about the abuse, according to investigators.

The Thomases became foster parents in 1997. According to sheriff’s investigators, two foster children showed signs of physical abuse and were removed from the home in 2003 when they lived in Rogers County.

Four other foster children were left in the home and were eventually adopted into the family. The Thomas’ then moved to Osage County.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services released a statement after the 2012 arrests and called the couple’s acts sickening and intolerable. The agency said it began an internal investigation which promised corrective action.

News On 6 has contacted DHS and asked for an update on its investigation. We will add a statement in this story when we receive it.

Since the initial investigation into the couple two years ago, a new arrest has been made.

An affidavit says at the same time the Thomases were abusing the children, Garrett Thomas, the couple’s biological son who is now 23, was using the children for his own sexual gratification.

Garrett Thomas was arrested on Christmas Eve.”

Sperry Couple Found Guilty Of Abuse, Forcing Kids To Eat Manure, Vomit[News on 6 1/22/14 by Brandi Ball]

“A judge ruled that Lora Lee Thomas will serve four life sentences consecutively. Her husband, Aubrey Thomas, was sentenced to 40 years in the Department of Corrections on one count of enabling child abuse and three counts of child abuse. Those sentences will also run consecutively.

On Friday, counsel for the Thomases filed their intent to appeal the conviction.”

Sperry Couple Sentenced In Child Abuse Case[World Now 3/14/14]