© wishtv.comSteve Sells and Joetta Sells
A judge sentenced a central Indiana woman to 24 years in prison Monday for the neglect of her malnourished, disabled, teenage granddaughter.
The Anderson woman apologized in court, saying her husband "would not let her care for" the girl. She pleaded guilty last month to six counts of neglect, three counts of criminal confinement and one count of battery resulting in bodily injury.
The physically and mentally disabled teenager, then 15, was found severely malnourished and neglected inside the home she shared with her grandparents last December. She weighed less than 40 pounds. She's now in foster care. Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said in August that the girl's weight had increased to approximately 100 pounds and she was attending a special needs class.
The girl's grandfather also had entered into a plea agreement and was scheduled to be sentenced Monday, but Circuit Judge Mark Dudley threw out the deal when the grandfather denied having battered the girl. A trial is set for Nov. 17.
Authorities have said the girl was abused and locked in a room, day and night, in the family's home. They have said they believe she was confined to the room from 2011 until she was found last year.
Source: The Associated Press
Comment: 24 years is not long enough to pay for the suffering this young woman had to endure.
December 2, 2014 - The 15-year-old was living with her grandparents — Joetta and Steve Sells — in the 3400 block of Forest Terrace. Police believe the girl was being kept in a locked room with a mattress, space heater, bucket and oatmeal. During a search of the room, they found blood and feces on the floor.
Investigators have questions about the government assistance that was supposed to help cover any expenses related to taking care of the girl.
"The money was there for that purpose and where did that money go," said Detective Joel Sandefur, with the Anderson Police Department.
An unrelated 4-year-old child was living with the Sells. According to police the child is now is DCS custody. During a police interview, the child demonstrated how a lock was put on the door and explained how the victim would put her fingers around the door trying to get out. The child also described to police how Steve Sells would pick up the teen by the hair and drag her.
Police said Joetta Sells admitted her husband would lock the 15-year-old girl in her room. When police questioned Steve Sells he said he did it to protect himself because the teen was very strong. The affidavit for probable cause points out Steve Sells weighs between 200 and 225 pounds.
Investigators are trying to paint a timeline of the alleged neglect by looking at the victim's medical and education records. The girl stopped attending Anderson Community Schools in October 2010. During a police interview Steve Sells said his granddaughter had not been to the doctor since January of 2012 because her Medicaid ran out.
According to the prosecutor, a juvenile court case involving the Sellses was filed in 2010 but the case was dismissed by DCS a month later.
"It's puzzling and I think we need to have some answers about that," Cummings said.
Steve Sells and his wife, Joetta, were granted custody of his granddaughter in 2009. Records show he appeared in court in on Nov. 6 in an attempt to get child support for the teen.
Anderson couple accused of keeping malnourished girl, 15, in feces-covered room
Comment: 24 years is not long enough to pay for the suffering this young woman had to endure.