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CHARLOTTE, NC — Police have linked four children in Florida, who were abused and malnourished, to their abusers in Charlotte.
Officers arrested Ronika Bell and Deron Cuthbertson, Jr. Friday for four counts of felony child abuse each.Β
Neighbors say they were in the dark.
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“No! No!” said Glenda Bailey in disbelief. “You never saw anybody in and out.”
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Bailey didn’t even know children lived next door, and she’s not the only one.
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“I had no clue they had any kids over there,” said Kelly Reid.
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There were four children, according to police: a 10-year-old little girl, and three boys ages nine, eight and six.
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Investigators say they suffered prolonged starvation and physical abuse at the hands of their mother, Bell, and extended family member, Cuthbertson.
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“It’s kind of like a horror story,” said Reid. Detectives say Bell left her children with a family member in Florida. At that point, the family member took the children to the hospital out of concern. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office contacted Charlotte police.
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Detectives surrounded the house in the 6000 block of Craftsbury Dr. Friday.
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“Both sides of the street were covered with FBI and police cars,” said Bailey.
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Investigators questioned Bell and Cuthbertson. They say they arrested Bell for the abuse and starvation. They say they arrested Cuthbertson for letting it happen in his home to children that were often left in his care.
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By the time the children received medical attention, police say they were malnourished. Β Police haven’t said if they are out of the hospital yet.
