A New Braunfels woman receives a 40-year sentence for horrific abuse of her adopted children, highlighting severe child welfare failings and raising community alarm.
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — A New Braunfels woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for abusing two of her adopted children.
Investigators say Susan Ray Helton, 53, was a former foster parent and adopted eight children. CPS reports accused her of physical abuse and neglect including starvation, beating and locking the kids in cages.
CPS workers say one of the victims was a 14-year-old girl weighing 48 pounds and a second victim was a 13-year-old boy weighing 50 pounds when they were rescued. Now adults, the victims said they were hit with a belt if they were caught “stealing” food from the kitchen.
The female victim testified that she would have to stay in the cage for weeks, including eating, sleeping, studying and working out inside the cage. The male victim testified to a similar experience, adding that they were not allowed to use the restroom and were told they were not allowed to tell anyone what was happening.
CPS and New Braunfels police did get involved at some point when investigators found that Helton homeschooled all the children and was not taking them to medical appointments. Investigators say both victims gained six pounds in a year-long period and grew less than three inches.
Helton denied any wrongdoing in her testimony, only admitting she kept the children in cages for a matter of convenience.
She has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for injury to a child causing serious bodily harm. She will have to serve out 20 years in prison before she is eligible for parole.