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Charlotte, NC — Thursday was the first Thanksgiving for four children since police say their mother left them locked in a room to starve.
Thanksgiving was a good day for the Bell children. Three months ago, they were starving. The youngest was unrecognizable.
“It’s sad. I’ve just been praying. I’ve been praying for them,” said Josh Bell. “I don’t know what to say, I’m just glad they’re here.I’m glad they’re safe.”
Last Thanksgiving, Bell’s kids say they didn’t have a meal.
“We only had thanksgiving the first time we were here,” said Aniya.
That was four years ago in Florida. Police say the 11-year-old and her three little brothers spent most their time locked in a room in a Charlotte home.
Investigators say their mother, Ronika Bell, and cousin, Deron Cuthbertson, Jr., ate in front of the kids.
The kids say they had to resort to eating raw food or crumbs off the floor.
“They did not have to go through this,” said Josh Bell.
Their mother did reach out from jail, he says, but she offered no apology.
“The only thing I got was a collect call saying, ‘Karma is a B.’,” said Josh Bell.
He says his estranged wife kept kept the abuse hidden until she dropped the children off at his Florida home on Sept. 6.
“Everybody had malnutrition,” said Josh Bell.
The youngest was near death. He had another surgery last week and could face more.
“Everything on him was hurting, basically almost failing,” said Josh Bell.
He says the other three couldn’t hold down solid food for weeks.
“I think about, I had a good time last Thanksgiving, and to think that they didn’t even get to eat,” said Josh Bell.
Thursday, the children told WCCB Charlotte they felt well. They said they were ready to eat Thanksgiving dinner.
The youngest ones stayed close to their father, kissing him when he cried.
By the end of the phone call, they wanted to send a message. They lined up and said “Happy Thanksgiving!” in unison.
Their mother is still in jail with a $300,000 bond. Cuthbertson bonded out of jail nearly two weeks ago.
