Camille Lewis and John Miles, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, have been charged with child abuse and neglect after the children’s grandmother allegedly called the police, fearing for their lives.
On January 17, the authorities say that the grandmother reported Lewis, the children’s mother, and the children’s stepfather Miles to the police.
According to authorities, she accused them of “serious continued abuse” of the daughter and reported that the son had been missing for “several years and possibly deceased.”
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The police are reportedly treating the boy’s disappearance as a homicide.
The 13-year-old girl was taken to live with her grandmother in September, who reported to police she was “skin and bones” from malnourishment.
During the drop-off, Lewis also allegedly admitted to her mother that the 11-year-old boy was dead, authorities say.
Child Crisis Detectives interviewed the young girl and say that she confirmed the allegations. She stated that the alleged abuse had started in November 2020 and only stopped when she went to live with her grandmother.
She reported that she and her brother would be locked in closets for days on end, forced to urinate and defecate into cups inside the closet, and beaten with belts and cords, according to the police report.
The girl also reportedly told police that they were sometimes forced to sleep outside in “an igloo-style doghouse” and exercise outdoors in freezing temperatures.
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The 13-year-old girl told police that the abuse continued when her stepfather would offer her food “in exchange for sexual favors,” police said.
When they asked what happened to her brother, the girl reported hearing her mother crying and yelling at the boy to wake up but he didn’t.
According to the police report, her mum told her the boy had a seizure and died but feared taking him to the hospital in case they got in trouble.
Miles and his cousin then allegedly buried the body in a park but later dug it up, brought it to the house, burnt the body in a barrel, and the ashes dumped into a drainage pipe, according to the girl’s statement to police.
Police have said that Lewis admitted she withheld food and beat them, but denied her son was dead. She claims he ran away and was never seen again.
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“Detectives are actively investigating this case, and at this time this is considered to be a homicide investigation,” Tulsa police said.
“The remains of the brother have not been found. Charges could be amended depending on the outcome of the investigation.”
Lewis was arrested on February 7, and Miles the day after. Both were charged with child abuse by injury and child neglect, with their bonds set at $600,000 each.
Miles was also charged with child sexual abuse. Tulsa County Jail records indicate he is a convicted felon.
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