Girl to police: I was locked in the bathroom for two days
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A 15-year-old Yakima girl locked away in a bathroom for days with little food and no windows clawed through the floor and escaped to her grandmother's house Tuesday night, investigators said.
"My granddaughter's banging on the door, 'nana 'nana please open the door,'" said the 15-year-old's grandmother, who KIMA will only identify as "Rebecca."
A frantic cry the grandmother never expected to hear.
Locked in a Yakima bathroom for two days, her granddaughter says she was held against her will.
"I just hugged her and cried with her and prayed with her and told her it's going to be OK. And, she said Nana, I can't go through it anymore," said "Rebecca."
Yakima investigators say the girl managed to rip up floor boards and crawl through the basement in a desperate attempt to escape.
She fled to her grandmother's house located nearly 20 blocks away.
"This poor child is in a horrible situation," said “Rebecca.”
So who locked the girl there in the first place? Yakima Police are pointing the finger at the parents.
Investigators said the stepfather and mother admitted to locking the girl in the bathroom. But court documents in the Yakima County Prosecutor's Office reveal Antonio Ceja told police the girl was only locked in the room for half an hour.
The girl's mother and stepfather were both arrested on felony charges.
Officers also say the teen was beaten with a broom handle before ending up in a homemade jail cell.
"Has YPD ever seen a case like this?" KIMA asked.
"Not that I can recall particularly, where the parents went to such cruel means to confine one of their children as to lock them, it's almost like locking them in a cage," said Yakima Police Captain Rod Light.
Investigators say the parents were upset about the girl's behavior but their choice of punishment is a crime.
The girl's grandmother said the girl has been mistreated before.
"There's not a better definition of this case than the Cinderella story," said "Rebecca."
Police said two other children have been removed from the house and the 15-year old is in a safe place as well after escaping what can only be described as a nightmare.
Yakima prosecutors pointed out the girl's stepfather has an excessive felony history in court today.
He's now banned from contacting anyone younger than 18.
Both the mother and stepfather are due back in court later this month.
"My granddaughter's banging on the door, 'nana 'nana please open the door,'" said the 15-year-old's grandmother, who KIMA will only identify as "Rebecca."
A frantic cry the grandmother never expected to hear.
Locked in a Yakima bathroom for two days, her granddaughter says she was held against her will.
"I just hugged her and cried with her and prayed with her and told her it's going to be OK. And, she said Nana, I can't go through it anymore," said "Rebecca."
Yakima investigators say the girl managed to rip up floor boards and crawl through the basement in a desperate attempt to escape.
She fled to her grandmother's house located nearly 20 blocks away.
"This poor child is in a horrible situation," said “Rebecca.”
So who locked the girl there in the first place? Yakima Police are pointing the finger at the parents.
Investigators said the stepfather and mother admitted to locking the girl in the bathroom. But court documents in the Yakima County Prosecutor's Office reveal Antonio Ceja told police the girl was only locked in the room for half an hour.
The girl's mother and stepfather were both arrested on felony charges.
Officers also say the teen was beaten with a broom handle before ending up in a homemade jail cell.
"Has YPD ever seen a case like this?" KIMA asked.
"Not that I can recall particularly, where the parents went to such cruel means to confine one of their children as to lock them, it's almost like locking them in a cage," said Yakima Police Captain Rod Light.
Investigators say the parents were upset about the girl's behavior but their choice of punishment is a crime.
The girl's grandmother said the girl has been mistreated before.
"There's not a better definition of this case than the Cinderella story," said "Rebecca."
Police said two other children have been removed from the house and the 15-year old is in a safe place as well after escaping what can only be described as a nightmare.
Yakima prosecutors pointed out the girl's stepfather has an excessive felony history in court today.
He's now banned from contacting anyone younger than 18.
Both the mother and stepfather are due back in court later this month.
DISGUSTING! Neuter them and ship them to Afghanistan. Let's see how tough they are.
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when are women going to stop letting garbage men into their lives and allow them near their children. This mother is worse than the man.
 @Katrine Blame the man. I have prior arrests from when I was a teen, yet I manage to raise my daughter alone. Her piece of scum mother doesn't help much. Cant always blame a man due to prior arrests because it speaks nothing of his attitude towards children. Some of the most hardened criminals are also some of the most loving parents. I would say that it was the mothers duty to her child to protect her. She is garbage for not doing that.
The stepfather needs to be put away from the food for about a month or so. Let him see how that feels to be hungry and can't get anything to eat.
 @Paula Parker I think he needs to go away permanently.
wow, what a story! Poor child! But not sure she will have a good future because obviously there is family dysfunction. The grandmother herself looks like a drama queen and as if she is high on something and only too willing to get on the news and tell the story...best thing is to remove the girl from the family entirely and get her a great deal of help. So very, very sad. Needs extensive social service and counseling help if there is any hope and not drama queens on the news!
 @ravenrage How can you say that you are not sure she will not have a good future?  People like you are the ones I personally prove wrong. Just because she has a bad child hood does not mean her being an adult will be bad. She will probably have her struggles, but as long as she has support from people who actually LOVE her and show her how she should be treated then I think she will be ok.  And I don't see how you think her grandmother is being a drama queen?  Really? Â
You said "people like you" and how can you say that when you don't know me and I don't know you...sorry if my generalized comment made it sound like the girl has little or no chance and if you are someone who "personally" proves it wrong then be proud of yourself and wish there were more like you...but I know some of the characters involved here and there is a great deal of dysfunction and it will take everything the young lady has to have a good life and make a good life for any children she may have. I wish her the best and hope she succeeds but it will be hard...and I think individuals involved would love her more for her SSI benefits than caring about her. Just stuff I know and that is all I will say but didn't mean to offend you by lumping you as the exception in with the people who make a mess of their own and their children's lives.
Selina was born to an uneducated very young mother. Mom is collecting Social Security Disability for mental issues. That she needs counsling or help for. The Stepdad uses all the family money on his classic cars and car shows. take a look in the garage then take a look in the house. I pray for this family. But seems to me this whole family and extended family chastize this young girl instead for seeking help for her.
@Peggy Grz still, there is not a reason there whatsoever, that merits locking your own child in a bathroom for two days. Glad that she is out and away from them. These people are the kind who should never raise children. Shameful, and irresponsible.
@thehellyousay I am not condoning or making excuses for this behavior. I know this has been going on for years and am happy to see her removed from the hell she was living. I am her Aunt and live in Fl. And would love to give her a good family life but the parent are worried they might loose their SSD income for her. She is only dollar signs to them. Poor girl.
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 @Peggy Grz if you are a family member shame on you for not going to authorities.
@Peggy Grz If you knew this kind of abuse was happening, why on earth didn't you call DCF in their home town and report it. You are just as quilty as the parents.Â
@Peggy Grz I hope u don't test positive for Cocaine !! Yeah Becky told me all about u ..
I agree hope to bring her here.
@Peggy Grz They pretty much lost it there, you can be sure.
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@thehellyousay im her real dads brother and they have kept her from us for 14 years moving from town to town and changeing phone numbers constantly!!