A mother confined her teenage offspring in enclosures akin to those used for animals, subjecting them to starvation and physical abuse within a house of horrors. The teenagers, a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, were discovered in a severely malnourished state after enduring prolonged mistreatment by their adoptive mother, Susan Rae Helton, 53. Helton, who had eight adopted children, resorted to using makeshift cages constructed from baby gates to confine two of the teens, alleging it was to prevent them from pilfering food.
Reports indicate that Helton routinely resorted to using a belt to physically assault the teenagers and enforced excessive physical activities on them. Over the five years they resided with Helton, the pair purportedly only managed to gain a mere six pounds in weight. Concerns regarding child abuse at the Texas residence led the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) to be contacted by child protection services in 2018. Subsequently, the children residing in Helton’s household were interviewed as part of a joint inquiry by law enforcement and child protection authorities.
The Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office disclosed that two of the children, who were victims of Helton’s abuse, recounted distressing experiences of starvation and physical harm inflicted by Helton if they were caught attempting to procure food from the kitchen. The other children corroborated these accounts, confirming that the victims were occasionally confined in cages for up to two to three weeks as a form of punishment. Following a surprise visit by the police to Helton’s residence, the baby gate enclosures were discovered. Helton confessed to confining the teenagers in cages due to their alleged food-seeking behavior.
All the children were homeschooled, and Helton frequently neglected to follow up on medical referrals, resulting in the victims later being diagnosed with severe malnutrition. The male teenager later recounted inadequate food consumption and being subjected to physical abuse or confinement in the cage. Helton was ultimately convicted on four counts of causing serious bodily injury to a child and received a 20-year sentence for each count.
The District Attorney’s office emphasized the importance of not betraying the trust placed in individuals who are tasked with the care and safeguarding of children. They also commended the bravery of the two survivors, now young adults, who testified against Susan Helton in court, demonstrating strength, dignity, and resilience despite enduring years of abuse. Their courage and honesty played a crucial role in holding Helton accountable for her actions.
