Couple Sentenced For Starving Children

Couple Sentenced For Child Abuse

Couple Charged With Murder

Tonya and Bryan Ricks have been sentenced to 25 years for child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and failure to provide medical attention.

The sentence came down Monday afternoon.

In 2009, the couple's teenage boy was found by a family friend in his own urine and feces. He was one of six children found severely malnourished.

The boy’s five sisters were also found severely malnourished. The boy was taken away from the home in late 2009. The girls, ages 6 months to 10 years, were taken away in January of 2010.

In an emotional appeal to the judge prior to the sentencing, Tonya asked for mercy and expressed grief for what her children were put through.

"I am truly, truly sorry for putting them in this situation," she said, sobbing. "It would mean a lot if they (her children) could hear it from me."

Her husband expressed similar remorse.

"I'm so sorry for the situation I put them in," Bryan said. Our 11 News reporter in the courtroom said he showed a lot of emotion as he addressed the judge.

Prior to giving the Ricks their sentence, the judge told them that they seemed remorseful, and applauded them for taking responsibility for their actions and pleading guilty, preventing their children from going through a trial.

"But it does not outweigh the severe, continuous abuse," the judge told the couple. He accused them of leading a double life, hiding their children from people who could help.

With a 25 year sentence, the couple received less than the 32 maximum sentence that the prosecution asked for, but far more than the 10 years that the defense requested.

Witnesses from the Ricks' church addressed the couple's mental capacity in court Monday. Many expressed belief that Bryan and Tonya didn't understand what they were putting their children through.

The couple's 16-year-old son, at one point starved to less than 40 pounds, called for a lengthy jail sentence in a letter his foster parents wrote to the judge, which was read in court Monday.

"I'm hoping my parents go to jail for a very long time for what they did to me," he wrote.

"This weighs down on his heavy little heart," his foster parents added in the letter. They explained that the boy met some people at church who felt that time in jail changed them for the better, something he was hoping for his parents.

The sentencing hearing began on October 19. 11 News heard testimony from the children's pediatrician, who explained the horrifying condition that the children were found in.

11 News learned learned that the couple starved their 14-year-old son to just 37 pounds, 15 pounds less than originally reported. When taken into foster care, the boy (who is not being named to protect his identity) weighed 52 pounds. A weight described by a doctor as the weight of a 7-year-old.

The problem was first noticed by a Colorado Springs electrician in 2008. Robert Stout told 11 News he reported the living conditions to police.

Stout said he was most concerned about the boy. At the time, he said the boy was “frozen,” not even flinching when a fly landed on his face. Stout said the boy was sitting in an awkward position, “like a frog." Stout was not even sure the boy was alive, he was so still.

"The thing I thought of was my son, that I would hope that somebody would call for my son if he was ever in trouble. So that's why I I had to call somebody, just to look in to see if what I saw was right,” Stout said.

Stout told the court that he could smell urine in the bedroom where the six kids were living. He said that he knew it was not cat urine, but human urine.

“It’s taken a long time for this to happen, and some people dropped the ball, and I hope that the court does not drop the ball and they get these guys good,” Stout said, relieved that the couple was finally receiving a sentence.

Testimony in court from pediatricians showed that all six children were found several malnourished. Not only did they have rotting teeth, but had medical conditions that went untreated for years. One of the girls had a heart condition called ADT, which is basically a hole in her heart. The boy suffered from untreated daily seizures, numerous each day. They also suffered from viruses, infections, and many of the girls had asthma. When taken from the home, two of the girls were suffering from fevers over 100 degrees.

Pediatricians testified that the children were not able to developed normal motor skills. They couldn’t even hold a pencil or fork. They would eat with their hands, and didn’t know how to use a toothbrush. They told a pediatrician they didn’t even own one.

“They couldn’t even tie their own shoes,” Dr. Margo Crossley, pediatrician for the five girls, said.

According to Crossley, the girls all had alligator-like skin and brittle hair, and were underweight with no muscle development.

Crossley said the Ricks could not give any medical history for any of the children.

All six kids have been placed in special needs foster care. Testimony on the 19th focused on the condition of the children when they were taken away from the home, and how they have improved.

The foster mother of the now 16-year-old boy said that he “may never be able to walk again, or live on his own.” The foster mother, identified as “Miss Carla," described how his untreated daily uncontrollable seizures hurt a part of his brain that provides balance. His feet are turned in, from lack of growth and development, inhibiting his ability to walk.

The boy is now learning to crawl and walk. Their goal is for him to someday be able to use a walker, “hopefully for graduation day.” Miss Carla adds that he had to have nine teeth pulled, and won’t eat sweets to avoid the pain of going to the dentist.

She explained that they are having to teach him how to each with utensils, “he can barely button his own shirt.” She says he is not at the age or grade level or a 16-year-old, and may never catch up. But he is back to school, and trying to swim, ride horses, and play baseball. The boy plays a game with his new family, Miss Carla told 11 News: “the name of the game if to gain weight.” He has gained 60 pounds since late 2009, now weighing 97 pounds.

The foster mother for the five girls, identified as “Miss Nancy," said the girls didn’t even know how to use the toilet. “They don’t know the basics. We have to explain everything.”

Miss Nancy says the girls still have 19 appointments a week, but are healthier and happier, and much more outgoing. She says they may never get to 100 percent, and could face a lifetime of struggles.

All six have undergone physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapy, and speech therapy. Foster parents and pediatricians told the court that they are now healthier and stronger. All of age are in school and are learning how to live normal lives. But they continue to received ongoing therapy and medical and dental care.

Pediatricians said the child abuse not only took its toll on the children physically, but also mentally and emotionally. They say they could have a lifetime of communication problems, especially the older children.

The abuse took place in a home in the 4300 block of North Chestnut that the Ricks lived with their six children.

There was “limited furniture to include little to no bedding for the children,” according to the arrest affidavit.

The court documents went on to state, “neither bathroom contained any routine items normally kept in a bathroom… to include toilet paper, hand towels… or anything else which would be used to clean up after showering/toileting.”

Neighbors that spoke with 11 News never met the family, but said if they had known what was going on, they would've stepped in.

"If I saw something I'd report it. I'm not going to keep it (hidden) it's going to be for the protection of the children so if I saw it I would let someone know about it," Maria Garcia said.

Police said in the documents that their kitchen contained mostly spoiled food. The affidavit says the Ricks home-schooled their children, but detectives never found any school supplies.