Girl Found in Closet Confined For 4 Years, Attorney Says
Originally published by The Associated Press, June 26, 2001
The 8-year-old girl who was locked in a closet and severely malnourished was kept in the confined space for four years, a district attorney testified during her custody hearing today.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Lunden said that Lauren Calhoun was kept in a "closet, attic or small room" since 1997. Also, Lauren's five siblings were told to lie about her existence.
Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon is to decide whether Lauren's siblings should be placed with relatives or left in foster homes under the custody of Child Protective Services.
Today she ordered Child Protective Services to study the home of an East Texas couple seeking custody of Lauren. She also ordered other home studies for the purpose of custody of the other siblings.
Lauren was locked in a closet and weighed only 25 pounds when she was rescued earlier this month from her home in Hutchins, located south of Dallas. Lauren is hospitalized at Children's Medical Center in Dallas.
Authorities said she was imprisoned in a urine-and feces-contaminated closet in Atkinson's home. Police also are investigating evidence that the girl was sexually abused.
Barbara Atkinson and Lauren's stepfather, Kenneth Ray Atkinson, were arrested last week on charges of injury to a child, a felony that carries a prison term from five to 99 years.
Both remain at the Dallas County Jail. Barbara was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond. Police said Kenneth Ray Atkinson faces charges of probation violation in Ellis County and would not be released on bond.
Kenneth Atkinson attended the hearing, wearing white jail overalls. He answered a few questions, saying little and asserting his Fifth Amendment rights. He was returned to the Dallas county jail shortly afterward.
Bill and Sabrina Kavanaugh of Canton, who tried to adopt Lauren when she was born but lost custody when the birth mother changed her mind and wanted the baby back, asked for the home study from CPS as part of their attempts to seek custody of Lauren.
The Kavanaughs have been undergoing psychological evaluations and other tests with CPS officials. If approved for temporary custody, they'll attend six to eight weeks of classes that teach foster parents how to deal with mentally challenged children.
Barbara Atkinson's attorney said last week that her client will voluntarily give up her parental rights to Lauren in favor of the Kavanaughs, if approved by Shannon and CPS.
CPS spokeswoman Stacey Ladd said Lauren's birth father would have to be located and terminate his parental rights before adoption proceedings could be completed.
Several dozen relatives of the Kavanaughs attended today's hearing. Most wore buttons with a photo of a chubby-cheeked Lauren smiling on her first birthday.
Also, various grandparents requested visitation of the other children.
Billy Bowers, of Jasper, was at the hearing requesting a home study in hopes of being granted visitation of the 5-year-old girl. He was granted that study.
Bowers said he never married Barbara Atkinson, but is the biological father of that child.
"I'm worried about her. I don't know what happened to her," Bowers said. He has not seen the girl in a year.
Bowers, 38, is a single father of four other children.
