Loganville Foster Mom Arrested for Abuse of Foster Kids

Loganville Foster Mom Arrested for Abuse of Foster Kids

Created: Friday, 30 May 2008, 10:27 PM EDT

LOGANVILLE, Ga. (myfoxatlanta.com) – Police said some children were starved for days at a time and their foster mother may be to blame.  Fifty-six-year-old Shirley Allen of Loganville bonded out of jail Friday after being arrested for abusing her foster children.

Video: Loganville Foster Mom Arrested for Abuse of Foster Kids

FOX 5's George Franco Reports

Police said three teenagers were prisoners were prisoners in their own home and were prohibited from using the phone, having friends or visiting friends.

One place the children couldn't avoid was school where a teacher noticed bruises on one of them and called authorities.

"As you can see, the whip marks are on his arms," said Detective Angel Smith of the Loganville Police Department.

Police took pictures of bruises left on a 15-year-old boy allegedly at the hands of Allen.

Detective Smith said Allen used an extension chord to whip the 15-year-old boy and two girls, ages 14 and 17.  Police said the children, who aren't related, were under Smiths' foster care at her Loganville home.

"All these children told me they went without food three days as punishment," said Smith

Smith said Allen confessed to making the children eat standing up. Police said the kitchen had no refrigerator. A small refrigerator was kept in Allen's bedroom under lock and key and another refrigerator was kept in the garage.

Loganville police said Allen told them that she considered the food in the house to be property and if the children took the food without permission, she considered that to be stealing and they would be punished.

Neighbors said nothing seemed wrong at the home, but police said behind closed doors the children were prisoners in their own home, who were grateful to be released.

"Right before they drove away they called me over to the van and gave me hugs and kisses and thanked me," said neighbor Sehay Netsereab.

Police said Allen adopted the three teens in Illinois and moved to Loganville with the teens a little more than a year ago.

There had been no comment as of Friday night from DFCS on the status of the teens, but police said they believe the three were kept together.