‘The .01 percentile in the weight that they should be’: Mom headed to prison after 5 ‘frail, lethargic and unkempt’ kids found languishing in basement

A Wisconsin parent learned her destiny for allowing her 5 children to go truthful malnourished they were successful “the .01 percentile successful the value that they should be.”

Dashja L Turner, 35, was sentenced to six years successful situation connected Friday aft she pleaded blameworthy to 3 counts of child neglect causing large bodily harm, tribunal records show. She was primitively charged with 5 counts of kid neglect — 1 for each kid — but prosecutors tossed 2 of the charges arsenic portion of her plea agreement. Once released from prison, she volition beryllium connected probation for 9 years.

More from Law&Crime: ‘Shrugged and waved her off’: Florida ma indifferent arsenic her kids, 1 and 3, were wandering the vicinity unsocial and unclothed, constabulary say

Cops successful Racine, a metropolis connected the shores of Lake Michigan immoderate 30 miles southeast of Milwaukee, responded successful July 2023 to Turner’s location successful the country of 11th Street and Metron Court for a payment cheque connected the children, local Fox affiliate WITI reported. A transgression ailment obtained by the TV presumption said cops were called aft a landlord became acrophobic for the kids’ well-being,

Officers entered the location and recovered the children, ranging successful property from 14 months to 14 years old, without immoderate nutrient oregon bath successful the unfinished basement. The lone model was covered by purple paint, the affidavit reportedly said. Four of the kids were connected a single, duplicate aerial mattress successful 1 country portion the different kid was successful different room. All 5 were “frail, lethargic and unkempt,” the ailment said.

A authoritative during Turner’s archetypal quality described conscionable however atrocious of signifier the kids were in.

“There’s implicit neglect and abuse,” said Brooke Erickson, Racine County adjunct territory attorney. “No food, wholly malnourished children fundamentally washing distant and successful the .01 percentile successful the value that they should be”

At slightest 1 of the kids showed signs of maltreatment portion different received a “whopping with a belt” from a antheral who lived with Turner, cops said. That man, 34-year-old Laquan Russell, was charged with 3 counts of kid maltreatment and 2 counts of kid neglect. His lawsuit is ongoing.

Local ABC affiliate WISN spoke to 2 of the children’s fathers pursuing Turner’s arrest.

“It hurts precise severely due to the fact that I’m begging, texting you each holiday, each birthday, similar ‘Can I person my son?’ ‘Where are you?’ Get ignored,” Rickie Stevens, the begetter of 2 of the children, told the TV station.

The begetter of the 14-year-old said his girl weighed lone 54 pounds.

“That f—ing hurt,” helium said. “Yeah, it’s painful.”

Love existent crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life transgression stories delivered close to your inbox.