TWO teenagers were kept “like animals” in cages for months at a time and punished with beatings for being hungry in a Texas house of horrors.
The teenage siblings – a girl, 14 and boy, 13 – were severely malnourished after suffering years of abuse and neglect by their adoptive mother Susan Rae Helton, 53.
Helton, who had eight adoptive kids, forced the two teens to live and sleep in cages made out of baby gates to stop them from “stealing food”.
She also regularly beat them with a belt and forced them to endure excessive exercise.
The siblings gained only six pounds and had grown only three inches during the five years they had lived with Helton.
Child Protective Services (CPS) contacted the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) about concerns of physical abuse and neglect of two of Helton’s adopted children in 2018.
All of the children living in Helton’s home were interviewed as part of the joint investigation by the local police department and child protective services.
“Two of her children victims provided heartbreaking accounts of being starved and physically abused with a belt by Helton if they were caught ‘stealing’ food from the kitchen,” the Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office said.
“The other children corroborated these accounts and that the victims were sometimes forced to remain in the cages for up to two or three weeks at a time when they were ‘in trouble.’
“As the evidence began to develop, it became clear that Helton targeted these two children.”
Following the interviews, a surprise visit was made to Helton’s home where investigators found the baby gate cages.
When confronted, Helton admitted to confining the victims inside, telling authorities it was because they were “sugar-seeking,” and stealing food.
All of the children in the house were homeschooled and Helton regularly failed to follow up on doctors’ referrals.
They were all swiftly removed from the residence and provided proper nutrition, and the two victims gained over eight pounds in less than a month, according to the DA’s office.
The victims were diagnosed with severe malnutrition and failure to thrive.
In court, the female victim testified her adoptive mother forced her to stand inside the baby gates for most of the day while doing exercises, reading, completing homework, Law & Crime reported.
She also said that she ate and slept there.
The victim also said she has continuous nightmares of being hunted down and trapped by the defendant.
The male victim testified life with Helton was “rough” and he was constantly trying to keep himself and his sister alive.
He also said he never got enough food and that if he obtained food without permission the defendant would beat him with a belt or put him back in the cage.
On the stand, Helton admitted that she confined the two victims in the cages as a matter of convenience, in order to give her a break, The Mirror reported.
She also stated that the girl slept in the cages for a period of up to 18 months.
Helton was convicted on four counts of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and received 20 years for each count.
She will have to serve at least half of her combined 40-year sentence before she is eligible for parole.
“This case serves as a stark reminder that when the community entrusts someone with the care and protection of children, that trust must never be abused,” the DA’s office said.
“We also recognize the extraordinary courage of the two survivors, now young adults, who stood together and bravely faced Susan Helton in court.
“After enduring years of abuse, they testified with strength, dignity, and resolve – watching out for one another, as they always have.
“Their courage and honesty were instrumental in holding Helton accountable for her actions.”