kayceebee
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Foster parents charged with abuse
Tennessee authorities remove 18 children from home
TRENTON, Tennessee (AP) -- A little more than a year after Tom and Debbie Schmitz were profiled in heartwarming news stories as religious, caring foster parents, 18 children have been removed from their home amid charges of abuse and neglect.
Police say some of the children -- including those with physical disabilities and special behavioral needs -- were beaten, left for long hours in a dark cellar and locked in a metal cage.
The Schmitzes stood silently at their first court appearance Tuesday. An attorney for Debbie Schmitz said she is innocent and will fight for the return of the children.
"She's not guilty of abuse as the law would define that," attorney Michael Robbins said as the Schmitzes and a handful of supporters arrived at court with yellow ribbons pinned to their clothes.
For the rest of the article.......http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/06/30/foster.parents.abuse.ap/index.html
Tennessee authorities remove 18 children from home
TRENTON, Tennessee (AP) -- A little more than a year after Tom and Debbie Schmitz were profiled in heartwarming news stories as religious, caring foster parents, 18 children have been removed from their home amid charges of abuse and neglect.
Police say some of the children -- including those with physical disabilities and special behavioral needs -- were beaten, left for long hours in a dark cellar and locked in a metal cage.
The Schmitzes stood silently at their first court appearance Tuesday. An attorney for Debbie Schmitz said she is innocent and will fight for the return of the children.
"She's not guilty of abuse as the law would define that," attorney Michael Robbins said as the Schmitzes and a handful of supporters arrived at court with yellow ribbons pinned to their clothes.
For the rest of the article.......http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/06/30/foster.parents.abuse.ap/index.html