Father suspected of locking up 6 kids

Father suspected of locking up 6 kids

ANSLEE WILLETT

The Colorado Springs Gazette

Nov 22, 2006 

A Colorado Springs man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of locking his six adopted children in the basement of his Stetson Hills home, allegedly to keep them from running away or taking food from the pantry.

William Fam, 59, was served a summons on suspicion of six counts of child abuse and six counts of false imprisonment, all misdemeanors.

The four boys and two girls, between the ages of 7 and 16, have been taken into custody by the El Paso County Department of Human Services.

Sgt. Howard Black wasn't sure where or when the children, who appeared well-nourished, were adopted.

Initial investigation shows they were locked up primarily overnight, Black said.

"It's been going on for some months," he said. "We're still interviewing the children."

Police said one of the boys, 14, was assaulted by Fam last week in the basement of the 3,800-square-foot house in the 5400 block of War Paint Place.

People at the boy's school noticed scratches and bruises on him and notified the police officer assigned to the school.

As police investigated the assault, they learned the teen lived in a basement bedroom with three other boys and that two girls lived in the main room of the finished basement, which has a bathroom.

"Victim statements showed that the mother and father locked the basement door to keep the children from stealing food or running away," a police report said.

The mother, Samia Fam, hadn't been arrested. Police said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.

Some of the children told police the Fams punished them through physical force and by withholding food, investigators said.

The basement bedroom and main room were rigged with video cameras monitored by the Fams in the upstairs part of the house, police said.

Neighbor Mike Malmstrom usually saw the two girls walking to and from school.

"I didn't know how many kids they have," he said. "I couldn't even put faces on the other ones because I really wouldn't see them. I'd rarely see the wife. I'd see the man going to and from the mailbox."

County records show the Fams have owned the twostory, five- bedroom house since May 2003.

William Fam pleaded guilty in 1988 to second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, according to court records, which didn't identify the victim.

In March 1998, Samia Fam took out a temporary restraining order against her husband, alleging domestic abuse, according to court records. The order was vacated days later.

Also in March 1998, William Fam filed for divorce, but it was withdrawn that year, according to court records.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0366 or anslee.willett@gazette.com