Safety and love – these are two very important things that parents should provide for their children. And most of the time, this comes as a natural instinct.
There is nothing worse for a parent than when their child gets hurt, is in pain, or goes missing.
That’s why it’s so strange that some parents care so little.
Unfortunately, this was the case for 5-year-old Angel. Luckily, she had a grandmother who intervened and managed to prevent it from getting worse. It all began with a phone call to the police. Concerned grandmother Linda Benskey felt that something was very wrong.
Linda from North Carolina, USA, had not seen her granddaughter for months. She started to worry.
Eventually, she decided to pick up the phone and call 911. The police went straight to the child’s father and his partner’s house, where Angel was registered.
At first, the concerned grandma thought it would be a routine check, just to make sure her grandchild was okay.
Posted by Linda Benskey on Monday, January 22, 2018
But what the police would find would shock everyone.
After searching the house, the officers discovered the 5-year-old girl locked in a small closet under the stairs. She was dirty, burned, and had bruises and marks from beatings.
Social worker Tracey Harrell, who had previously been in contact with Angel, was asked by the police to assist in the case.
“Her little hands were shaking. Her hair was partially shaved, and what wasn’t shaved stuck out like patches on her head,” she told Fox 59, adding that she had bruises on her neck.
It was hardly possible to recognize the sweet blonde girl with the radiant blue eyes.
The police officers couldn’t say for certain how long the girl had been locked in the closet. When Angel was asked when she had last eaten, she replied, “I don’t know.”
Tracey’s presence during the rescue turned out to be a good move by the police. She immediately embraced Angel when she came out.
“She clung to me and put her arms around me. When I put her down, she kept saying, ‘Please don’t go, please don’t leave me,’” Tracy said.
According to CBS, the child had returned to her father’s custody in the spring of 2017.
Since the discovery, Angel’s father and partner have been charged with child abuse and illegal weapon possession.
Meanwhile, Linda’s brother, his wife, and Angel’s biological mother are working to gain custody of the young girl.
This story could have had a much darker ending. Thanks to Linda’s actions, Angel managed to escape her suffering. It makes me so sad to see how some parents treat their children. Please share this story to raise awareness about all the helpless children out there.
