How Could You? Hall of Shame-Care Cottage

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 Willis, Texas, residential care facility Care Cottage  was searched “after almost 100 instances of abuse were reported.”

“Those allegations included reports of girls aged six to 17 being hog-tied and sexually assaulted.

A little girl was found walking alone along a highway after escaping the facility.

“(I asked) where are you going? And she said, ‘I’m going home’ ” said Channah Newton, who tried to help the girl.

The 7-year-old told Newton that she’d run away from the Care Cottage.

“She’s got tears running down her face,” said Newton. “I was so upset just because of the shear terror in her eyes. As a mom, it broke my heart. She was saying, ‘I don’t want to go back, I don’t want to go back, I don’t want to go.’ ”

Others like the child have also cried out for help.

“We are seeing sexual assault, sexual abuse (cases),” said J.D. Lambright, Montgomery County, TX, attorney who handles juveniles and the Child Protective Services Division.

The Care Cottage is a state funded residential treatment facility for at risk girls.

He said he was notified by the Willis Superintendent of children reporting abuse from behind the walls of the facility.

“One girl had choke marks on her throat,” Lambright said.

On Wednesday the district attorney’s office issued a search warrant for The Care Cottage.

The affidavit alleges that a child had head lice that was treated with mayonnaise.

That one was ‘hog tied” and ‘slapped” as punishment.

The facility also tried to cover up a sexual assault allegation.

It also alleges a teen was restrained and suffered a fractured arm.

Lambright said that 93 cases of alleged abuse were reported in the past 16 months.

“Every single one of these has been reported to the state,” Lambright said. “Something needs to be done to make sure these girls are protected.”

Care Cottage did not respond to request for comments.

The Department of Family Protective Services said that all of the allegations are being investigated.

Authorities seized computers, cell phones and other records from the Care Cottage.

No arrests have been made, but the district attorney’s office says criminal charges are expected.”

Treatment facility for girls raided following abuse allegations

[Richmond Register 5/18/18]

REFORM Puzzle Piece