How Could You? Hall of Shame- Charles and Suzan Sealock UPDATED

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 Dandridge ,Tennessee, adoptive parents Charles Sealock,57, and Suzan Sealock,51 “were charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect, and false imprisonment after the boy was found asking a nearby neighbor to trade a pine cone for food Saturday”.

“Five kids living in a home on Cherry Brook Drive in Dandridge are now in state custody and their parents are accused of abusing three of them.

Jefferson County Sheriff G.W. “Bud” McCoig said it all started when a neighbor found a seven-year-old boy wandering around by himself on Saturday afternoon, asking for food.

“He had a pinecone and tried to trade it for food at the neighbor’s house. He appeared to be malnourished and in need of food,” said McCoig.

McCoig said he was also covered with cuts and bruises, and his toes and fingers were damaged. He said some of the fingernails looked like they’d been torn off. Deputies found the boy’s parents – Charles and Suzan Sealock – at their home down the road.

“When an officer took the child back, he denied that he lived there- he didn’t want to go back home,” said McCoig.

Deputies said the boy is one of the Sealocks’ three adopted children. They also have two biological kids.

Investigators said the boy told them that his parents would lock him a half-bathroom, which he called the “naughty room” for days at a time, feeding him nothing but baby food. Deputies said the room locked from the outside, and contained nothing but a toilet and tile flooring.

“The seven-year-old had learned how to manipulate the lock to get out, so they used a chest to hold him in the room. And one of the children had went down to give him something to drink, and when they gave him something to drink, the chest was not scooted back up against the door, so the young boy escaped,” said McCoig.

Investigators said the Sealocks’ two other adopted kids also had cuts and bruises and damage to their toes and fingers, but their two biological children appeared to be okay. DCS removed all of the children from the home and deputies charged the Sealocks with aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment.

Charles Sealock is also charged with assault on an officer and resisting arrest. McCoig said he tried slamming a door in a deputy’s face during the investigation, and then pushed the deputy.

Suzan Sealock said she didn’t want to comment until she’d spoken to her attorney. Charles and Suzan Sealock are free on bond and are due back in court on Tuesday.”

Dandridge couple charged with child abuse[Local 8 9/4/14 by Hilary Magacs]

“The boy at first told investigators he didn’t have a home, then later said the Sealock’s locked him a small bathroom for days at a time, and only gave him baby food to eat.

“This 7-year-old had been kept in a 3-by-4 room, small room, without any bedding. And there was actually a chest pushed up against the door so the boy couldn’t escape from that room,” said McCoig.

The child also said his mother steps on his toes, pinches him, and bites his fingers. He also said his mother and father had hit him in the head.

“They changed the lock to the small bathroom to lock from the outside so he couldn’t get out,” said McCoig. “When they took him back there, he told detectives he didn’t live there. He didn’t want to go back.”

Two other adopted children in the home, a nine-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, also showed signs of previous injuries. The Sealock’s biological children, aged three and 14, did not show any signs of abuse. All of the children were removed from the home and placed in DCS custody.

Charles Sealock was also charged with assault on an officer and resisting arrest. McCoig said he did not want to cooperate with the investigation, and allegedly shut a door on the deputy and then pushed him.

Both suspects will be in court Tuesday. They’ve since been released from jail and could face additional charges.”

Sheriff: Parents facing charges after “torture” of adopted child[WBIR 9/7/14 by  Ashley Izbicki]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:Finally!” A Dandridge couple has been indicted by a Jefferson County Grand Jury, following their initial arrest in 2014.

Charles Earl Sealock, 58, and his 53 year-old wife, Suzan Marie Sealock, Cherry Brook Drive, allegedly abused their son from July, 2011 through August, 2014. The boy aged seven, went to the home of a neighbor in August, 2014, saying he was hungry.

Jefferson County Detective Sgt. Pam Taylor said the boy was dirty and had lacerations, bruises and scars on his face, forehead and body. The boy had allegedly been locked in a 3 X 4 foot, “toilet room” for days, with a dresser pushed up against the door exterior.

Detective Taylor said the child with multiple injuries was treated at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for the injuries that were” especially heinous atrocious and cruel”. She said the hematoma on the child are believed to have been caused by “torture”, and resulted in serious body injuries.

The parents are charged with six counts aggravated child abuse, six counts aggravated child neglect and three counts especially aggravated kidnapping. Charles Sealock is charged additionally with assault and resisting arrest.

Bond was initially set at $55,000 for each of the defendants.”

 

Dandridge couple indicted in child abuse/kidnapping [923WNPC 4/15/16]