Oklahoma family accused of abusing girl

FAIRVIEW, Okla., Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A couple in Fairview, Okla., and their two children abused a Liberian girl they adopted along with her four sisters, authorities allege.

Authorities in Major County, Okla., have filed felony child abuse charges against Andee Verlon Tyler, 51, and his wife, Penny Tyler, 46, for allegedly abusing the unidentified girl, now 13, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) reported Monday.

The couple's 20-year-old son, Ashton Malachi Tyler, 20, is charged with rape by instrumentation and their 21-year-old daughter, Nathania Dellare Tyler, 21, is facing misdemeanor assault and battery charges.

The alleged abuse victim was one of five Liberian sisters, who range in age from 5 to 15, adopted by the Tylers in 2005.

Retired teacher Janice Winchert, who helped home-school the girls, said the sisters routinely complained about abuse at the hands of the Tylers.

"They never denied it," Winchert said about her eventual confrontation with Tyler and his wife about the girls' allegations. "They just kept repeating, 'You don't understand what we're dealing with here.'"

Angela Molette, president of the Garfield County NAACP, told the Oklahoman she suspects the girls were bought as slaves by the Tylers as part of an alleged international child trafficking scam.