Spokane7
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December 7, 2010 in City
Mother of twins charged with abuse
Warrant for grandmother after girls found in feces
Coeur d’Alene police on Sunday arrested a woman whose 2-year-old twin daughters were found with dried feces caked all over their bodies.
Elizabeth C. Crossley, 26, was charged with two counts of felony injury to a child. A warrant also was issued Monday for the arrest of the children’s grandmother, Ruth K. Cassidy, 55. The children are in the custody of the Idaho Health and Welfare Department, a Coeur d’Alene Police Department news release said.
Chief Wayne Longo praised passer-by Anthony Brown for reporting the children’s condition to the police after he walked by the apartment at 1201 N. Lincoln Way around 2:30 a.m. Sunday and saw the two girls sleeping naked on the floor in what appeared to be “very dirty conditions,” the release said.
When officers arrived, they also saw through the window two children laying face down on the carpet clutching a small teddy bear. They appeared to be huddled together for warmth. There were dirty diapers on the floor and on the window sill and the walls in the room appeared to be smeared with feces.
Once inside, the officers said they saw a large number of cats and two dogs and garbage and clutter strewn about, the release said. Rotting food sat on the stove and counter.
Officers said the beds in Crossley’s and Cassidy’s bedrooms appeared to be relatively clean but when they opened the door to the children’s bedroom, one officer had to step outside to vomit. The smell of feces was overwhelming and both children had it caked on their heads, arms, legs, hands and feet. They also had bruising and open sores.
The children were immediately removed and placed into protective custody. They were then taken to Kootenai Medical Center for further evaluation of their injuries.
Police said a couch cushion was tied to the door of the girls’ room “in such a fashion to stop the girls from hitting the door or pounding on it.” A child door knob safety device prevented the girls from opening the door from the inside. The room had no furniture.
When the officer asked Cassidy the girls’ names, she was initially unable to tell them apart, the release said. “She was ultimately able to tell them apart by lifting up their shirts to differentiate between their injuries,” the release said.
Crossley offered no explanation for their injuries or living conditions other than to say they were difficult to manage.
2 home invasion robberies in Spokane 
mikeln on December 07 at 4:25 a.m.
Time to stop idiots from having babies. These children deserve better then this and I hope they get it.
oneanddone on December 07 at 5:07 a.m.
The media, in all forms, needs to publish pictures of these women. This crime, against the most vulnerable, should get your photo out in public, gaining you the notoriety you deserve.
Diana on December 07 at 5:08 a.m.
So, where was the father?
lewis8457 on December 07 at 8:01 a.m.
and they were on public assistance no doubt.
misjustice on December 07 at 8:18 a.m.
@ Diana; Indeed, where’s baby daddy?
Bless you Mr. Brown for getting involved and doing the right thing. Had Mr. Brown not taken action those little girls would have had to endure horrific conditions, perhaps for years.
Racingmom on December 07 at 11:15 a.m.
Oh man…. my heart just breaks when I read stories like this. My mind simply can not understand what goes through a person’s head when they neglect, abuse, beat and torture children. I just don’t get it. I work in a profession where I often deal with pedofiles and their victims and it always amazes me that these people (as well as other abusers) can somehow seem to justify their actions (if only in their own minds). It just makes me sick!
Thoreau on December 07 at 12:35 p.m.
You need a license to sell lemonade, go fishing, go hunting, and drive a car. Yet, ANYONE can have children! This woman needs to be smothered in feces, as well.
noridare on December 07 at 2:29 p.m.
This is as bad as it gets. These both should have their uteruses taken and then sent to a Chinese prison for men, for life.
I would like to make sure these two have a Christmas. Please let us all know where to send presents and the size of clothing.
Ed Byrnes on December 08 at 8:20 a.m.
I pray for these children, that they will get the opportunity to live in a loving and nurturing home, and that they have the strength and resilience to overcome this horrific start they were given in life.
Although my faith tells me that we are all brothers and sisters this story stretches my ability to abide by this, so I will say no more.