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Jonesville Couple Denies Abuse Allegations

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JONESVILLE, S.C. -- The Union County couple accused of starving and abusing their two children says the allegations against them are false.

Deputies said that they found the children at a playground near Bogansville United Methodist a week ago.

Investigators said that the 10-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl weighed less than 50 pounds each.

Deputies said the children told them their mother kicked them out of the house without food so she could go shopping.

But Connie and John Oliver said that the children have never been neglected in their eight years with the family.

Connie Oliver is charged with felony unlawful neglect and her husband is charged with cruelty to children, a misdemeanor.

The couple said that the children suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome and were neglected in an Estonian orphanage when the Olivers adopted them.

Children suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome are commonly below average weight for their age.

The children are in the care of the state Department of Social Services.

DSS director Kim Aydlette said last week that her agency followed the law in the case.

According to a police report, a DSS social worker told officers the agency had several reports on the Olivers' children, but were never able to do anything with the case.

Aydlette said that the agency last investigated the family in 2004 but had no contact with the family until last week.

In 2004, DSS decided not to pursue action against the Olivers based on a medical statement from a physician who was working with the children, Aydlette said.

2006 Oct 2