Woman accused in adopted teen daughter’s abuse tied her to bed with ratchet straps: court documents

By John Tunison | jtunison@mlive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 50-year-old woman accused in the extreme malnourishment of her 13-year-old adopted daughter also allegedly used ratchet straps to tie the teen to a bed.

Wilma Edwards was arraigned Monday, Aug. 29 on two counts of first-degree child abuse.

Kent County sheriff’s deputies said they are looking for her 49-year-old boyfriend and say he was complicit in the abuse.

According to a probable cause affidavit used to obtain a warrant against Edwards, detectives said that Williams was “forced by CPS to bring (the teen) to the hospital on 8/26 where she was diagnosed with being extremely malnourished.”

Detectives also said medical staff determined she had “liver and kidney damage” and “bruising and lacerations all over her body.”

According to the affidavit, Edwards allegedly told investigators that she and her boyfriend “tie (the girl) to her bed each night using ratchet straps to prevent her from getting out of bed. She would frequently wet the bed.”

A doctor who talked to investigators told them that the girl had developed “refeeding syndrome,” which occurs when food is introduced too quickly after a period of malnourishment.

The condition is potentially life-threatening if not treated, the doctor told detectives.

A judge on Monday set bond for Edwards at $10,000, but she can get out of jail by posting 10 percent of the total.