'I Can't Imagine Something Like That Happening To A Child'

'I Can't Imagine Something Like That Happening To A Child'

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Story Published: Apr 12, 2004 at 6:27 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:27 AM PDT

By Leslie Knopp

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SKAGIT COUNTY - "I can't even imagine something like that happening to a child. It was really surprising that it was happening right next door," said Mary Ortiz who can't stop crying when she thinks of the 7-year-old girl who lived next door.

The little girl would sneak in and out of her bedroom window to urinate on the ground outside, that's how long her parents locked her in her room.

"She had to be pretty desperate to figure all that out on her own and to jump in and out of that window," said Mary.

It was during one of those escapes that the little girl ran next door and made a cry for help.

Mary says the girl said, "I need to talk to you. I need help." Then she said her father and stepmother beat her and locked her away.

"They would put tape on her mouth when they would hit her so nobody would hear her when she screamed. She had all color bruises on her body," Mary said.

She didn't hesitate; she called police. Court documents say when investigators went in they found the girl: 'lying on a bare mattress with no bedding. The room had a strong smell of urine and mildew. The girl was lying face down with nothing but soiled underwear on.'

The girl told investigators her parents kept her: "locked up in the bedroom for hours at a time, having to climb out the window to urinate. She also admitted she was so thirsty she drank out of the toilet," Skagit County Deputy Sheriff Will Reichardt said. "We've never had any other calls to this particular house."

But now, both parents, George and Lynn Taylor, are in the Skagit County jail held on $250,000 bail each. They are charged with criminal mistreatment, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and rape of a child. They said they home-schooled the girl, so there were no teachers or other adults who might have noticed a problem.

Investigators say they've never had a call to this house. If the neighbors didn't get involved, no one would have known. Mary hopes other adults will have the courage to step forward if they think a child is being abused as well.

"Have enough courage to jump in with both feet because you could save a child's life."

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