GEORGIA
The Raw Story
By Travis Gettys
Friday, June 27, 2014
A former college football star and his wife have been charged with keeping the eldest of their 10 children locked alone in a basement room for nearly two years as punishment for stealing.
Recardo Wimbush Sr., 33, and Therian Cornelia Wimbush, 37, told authorities they confined the 13-year-old to the basement because he’d taken the family DVD player and then lied about it.
“The victim had been confined to the room for most of the past two years and a lock had been added to the victim’s room in January 2013,” said Cpl. Jake Smith, a spokesman for Gwinnett police. “The victim had no access to books, toys, entertainment devices, or his siblings.”
The investigation began after an anonymous phone call was made to child protective services, reporting the boy was held in a small room with a large jar to use as a makeshift toilet. …
A family website – “You’ve Been Wimbushed!” — indicates the parents are devout Christians who use the Hebrew names for God – “Yah” – and other biblical figures and advocate continual prayer.
Their next-door neighbor said the couple were strict disciplinarians who did not celebrate Christmas, handed out Bibles at Halloween, and displayed religious messages on their front door.
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