ENID, OK - An Oklahoma Air Force lieutenant colonel and his wife allegedly forced their malnourished nine-year-old adopted daughter to live in a closet and wear bells so they knew if she was moving around the house.
Lt. Col. Steven Haynes and Susan Haynes have been charged with child neglect, according to court records reviewed by KFOR. A Department of Human Services (DHS) report alleges that the little girl was found weighing 39 pounds with documented signs of life-threatening physical and psychological neglect. Shortly after their arrest, both Steven and Susan posted their bond of $10,000.
The couple lives at a home off Quailwood Drive, and Steven works at Vance Air Force Base. The allegations against the parents state that the two kept their adopted daughter in a closet day and night with a cot, a blanket, a pillow, and a bucket to go to the bathroom in. Court documents also allege that at times the young girl ate dog food.
The parents told authorities that they believed the girl had some sort of food disorder, but when they asked why the girl wasn't taken to the hospital, Susan reportedly said, "she did not believe that a doctor or counseling would help."
They allegedly nicknamed the young girl "Jingle Bells" because she wore bells on her wrists, legs, and neck. She told officials that it was so the parents could know where she was in the house. Another allegation was that the little girl told officials she would have to take cold showers at times too. She allegedly had to clean up her bucket by dumping it in the toilet when it was full and cleaning it with wipes.
The initial report of child neglect came when the girl attended Prairieview Elementary School in Pre-K. The report stated that staff there noticed the girl taking food from kids' backpacks and that she seemed malnourished, so they contacted DHS.
After that, the parents allegedly took the girl out of school and began homeschooling her. The latest accusations surfaced when the girl spoke with DHS and described her mistreatment as though it were a normal way to live, Law & Crime reported. Police arrested the parents and booked them into the Garfield County Jail, where they have since posted their bond. Their next court dates are set for October 5.
Steven Haynes is a flight instructor at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, which is about 80 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. He is assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Oklahoma.
He serves as the assistant director of operations and instructor pilot. He is a 19-year veteran of the force. He was one of nine airmen who filed a lawsuit after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, claiming it contained "unclean things forbidden by God."
Lt. Col. Steven Haynes and Susan Haynes have been charged with child neglect, according to court records reviewed by KFOR. A Department of Human Services (DHS) report alleges that the little girl was found weighing 39 pounds with documented signs of life-threatening physical and psychological neglect. Shortly after their arrest, both Steven and Susan posted their bond of $10,000.
The couple lives at a home off Quailwood Drive, and Steven works at Vance Air Force Base. The allegations against the parents state that the two kept their adopted daughter in a closet day and night with a cot, a blanket, a pillow, and a bucket to go to the bathroom in. Court documents also allege that at times the young girl ate dog food.
The parents told authorities that they believed the girl had some sort of food disorder, but when they asked why the girl wasn't taken to the hospital, Susan reportedly said, "she did not believe that a doctor or counseling would help."
They allegedly nicknamed the young girl "Jingle Bells" because she wore bells on her wrists, legs, and neck. She told officials that it was so the parents could know where she was in the house. Another allegation was that the little girl told officials she would have to take cold showers at times too. She allegedly had to clean up her bucket by dumping it in the toilet when it was full and cleaning it with wipes.
The initial report of child neglect came when the girl attended Prairieview Elementary School in Pre-K. The report stated that staff there noticed the girl taking food from kids' backpacks and that she seemed malnourished, so they contacted DHS.
After that, the parents allegedly took the girl out of school and began homeschooling her. The latest accusations surfaced when the girl spoke with DHS and described her mistreatment as though it were a normal way to live, Law & Crime reported. Police arrested the parents and booked them into the Garfield County Jail, where they have since posted their bond. Their next court dates are set for October 5.
Steven Haynes is a flight instructor at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, which is about 80 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. He is assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Oklahoma.
He serves as the assistant director of operations and instructor pilot. He is a 19-year veteran of the force. He was one of nine airmen who filed a lawsuit after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, claiming it contained "unclean things forbidden by God."
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