15-year-old found bound to tree with ratchet straps and carpet to sleep on, cops say
A man is accused of tying his 15-year-old daughter to a tree with a ratchet strap and leaving her outside for over 24 hours, Oklahoma authorities said.
Deputies responded July 28 to reports of possible child abuse of a 15-year-old girl at a residence in Vera, according to a July 29 news release Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities found the girl tied to a tree in the yard along with a scrap of carpet she was given to sleep on, authorities said.
The girl’s 40-year-old father, who had been investigated in Texas for “questionable actions” in the past, told authorities he tied his daughter up as a form of punishment, according to the sheriff’s office.
She had been strapped to the tree for over 24 hours straight, authorities said.
Other family members told authorities they were aware of the situation but were afraid to report the man to law enforcement, authorities said.
The man’s 42-year-old girlfriend told authorities she was too “frazzled” to report the behavior.
Authorities said the girl was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries. The Department of Human Services took the girl and several other children in the home into state’s custody, according to the sheriff’s office.
The father and his girlfriend were both arrested, according to authorities.
The man, charged with child abuse, is being held on $500,000 bail, jail records show. His girlfriend is charged with enabling child neglect. Bail information for the woman was not available.
McClatchy News is not naming the couple to protect the identity of the girl.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said they are continuing to investigate this and other possible incidents of abuse.
Vera is about a 25-mile drive north of Tulsa.
This story was originally published July 31, 2024 at 11:51 AM with the headline "15-year-old found bound to tree with ratchet straps and carpet to sleep on, cops say."
