Disabled Children Fund In Cages

Nine children were found locked in cages in their home in Wakeman in Huron County. The sheriff said the kids, ages 1 to 14, were found in the cages with no blankets or pillows. The wooden cages, estimated to be about 3 feet by 3 feet, were built into the walls. A teddy bear lies on the ground in front of children's swings, in the backyard of a home in Clarksfield Township, Ohio. Eleven disabled children were removed from the home, after authorities entered the home with a warrant, where some of the children were made to sleep in cages less than 3 feet high, authorities said. Officials are not releasing the photos of the cages, but the sheriff described them as makeshift cellblocks. The parents, Sharon and Mike Gravelle, didn't seem to think anything was wrong with their treatment, officials said. Officials said all the children were adopted children. The Gravelles have not been arrested. They had 11 children in all. The Gravelles said they put them in cages to protect themselves from each other because they are disabled. According to officials, the cages had alarms that would go off if the children tried to escape. "Basically, the parents thought they were providing for the protection of the children from themselves and from each other," said Huron County's Lt. Randy Sommers. "They thought it was circumstances that warranted the cages at night." The children were taken Friday to Fisher-Titus Medical Center on Friday. They are listed in good condition. They are now in four different foster homes. Neighbors said the family stopped going to church and actually built a church at their St. John Road home. "They worked all the time carrying rocks. It was non-stop continuous," neighbor Ron Wilkerson said. Officials said the Gravelles adopted the children from other agencies outside of Huron County. The family received monthly checks for adopting the kids.