That is what criminal courts are for.

Thank you neighbor!!! Unbelievably sad that this goes on. It breaks my heart to see kids treated like this. I would happily provide a loving home for them. There are so many who are without kids and want them.

To their guardians...please get help, whether it is education, more caretakers, whatever it takes. Don't treat kids like this no matter how frustrated you get.

I would like to express my opinion on what should happen to these parents... but it is just as disgusting as what they have done to these children... so, I won't. There are too many of these cases... one earlier in Carnation, WA this week where a child was only allowed to have 1/2 a dixie cup of water everyday. She was 14 yrs old and weighed 48 lbs. How can these people be allowed to be parents. It's scary to think what their own childhood was like. Where did they learn this type of "discipline/abuse?"

I'm very shock to hear that abuse is going on in homes and families.I was abuse as a child and no state people step in help me nor my sister.It makes me sad that how could parents do that to their children.I think that the state of utah needs step in more than ever and procet the children and take them where is safe.I don't agree with that parents abuse their children.the children need have a family that loves them and shows it everyday.by prioved they with food and nice place to live and clothes and warm blankets and toys to play with.i want thank you the neighbor that save those childrens lifes.

It amazes me that caretakers can be going to dinner and a football game and have kids locked in there homes and without clothes and food. I believe the article stated the Aunt was appointed their guardian about a year ago. How fast these kids fell out of grace with this individual. Kids deserve a safe and secure environment!!! This is pathetically sad!

My prayers are for these children.

My kudos to the neighbor who alerted the police.

The neighbor who called the police is a hero in my eyes. You most likely saved a life by your actions.

There will be those tragic few who would encourage looking the other way.

If you see a kid in danger, call the authorities.

I live with the regret that when I was in college, I saw a little girl standing on a busy busy street. I pulled over, and I asked her where she lived. She said that she did not want to go back, because her "mama is sleeping." I walked her back, and knocked on the door. A lady answered the door, and saw the girl, and ripped her out of my hands, and slammed the door in my face before I could explain. Then I heard the beating start. I didn't know what to do. It was before cell-phones, and I thought that I should mind my own business. Every now and again, my conscience reminds me of that kid long ago.

Now I have raised my own kids, I won't hesitate to call the authorities.

Just never ever look away.

Its difficult to read this article without crying. It would also be difficult for me to not take the same belt the guardian used on the kids and use it on her..... repeatedly!
I bet its very difficult for the police also, to deal with these scenes!

I wanted to thank the neighbor who wasn't afraid to act. It totally devastates me when I read stories like these where poor little children are the victims of poor parenting and abuse. We as citizens and neighbors should ALWAYS do the right thing and look out for the interests of those who cannot speak for themselves.

I think they should raid Eagle Mountain. They did it in texas with no evidence. This is what you call "REAL EVIDENCE" not a fake phone call.

This makes my heart sick. God bless those Children.

Oh, how awful. Those poor children. I hope they'll be able to get past this eventually.

There are around 2600 children in foster care in Utah. For better or worse, all of their stories don't make it into the newspapers like the story of these three. They are all there due to some form of neglect or abuse and need caring and nurturing adults to parent them while things are worked out to determine where they will be long-term.

There are only around 1300 foster families in Utah - obviously more are needed.

To those who wish there was something you could do - there is. Become a foster or adoptive family yourself. If you are unable, encourage others to do so. Be supportive of those you know who are. There is such a need.

The courts will only slap their hands and let them go back together as a happy, loving family. I left my ex over this exact thing in Utah County. The courts felt that they should give her chance after chance. It only cost me $120,000. Four custody battles (all of which ruled in my favor)and ten years of court. It was interesting and wrong how the courts kept giving her chance after chance at my cost. The courts always ruled that I pay. The family courts do NOT listen to the kids.

VOTE NO ON ALL JUDGES

and why wasn't a better investigation done before this aunt was even given custody of the children?
When children are put into the custody of someone else, there were obviously problems already happening--I should think there would be some follow-up to make sure the new placement was working out.
Thank goodness a neighbor stepped in. I know it's hard to "butt in", but it's needful sometimes.
For the person who returned the little girl to her home--don't be too hard on yourself--you tried to help and you did what seemed best at the time. We were well trained to mind our own business years ago.

What can you and I do to diminish the chances of this kind of thing happening again? I don't know of any of my neighbors that treat their children in such abusive ways, but how do I know?
As a kid, I had one friend who always wore jackets to school even in mid-summer, only to see once in Gym class the number of bruises, scars, and scratches he had. I didn't do anything and now wish I had.
We can't be suspicious of everyone because most people probably don't treat their kids that way. What can we do as a society or as individuals to root out this problem?
1. Create a relationship with our neighbors. Get to know them and create a bond of some sorts.
2. I have no idea but think it's important for our society to figure out.

While there are obviously times when CPS (in UT or any other state) drop the ball, these times when the very real need is borne out make you glad there was something in place to help these kids that so desparately needed it. Now if we could just get the funding for these agencies so they could hire more quailified and caring staff that would also help. They have such staff but need more so much. And the need just seems to grow each year as the children of these dysfunctional families grow up lacking common sence and parental skills and start dysfunctional families of their own. It is truely an exceptional child that can grow up in such circumstances and not perpetuate the problem.

It's about time protective services step up and do their job, not return the children to these "parents" with a "stern warning."

....but children can be given to an aunt and her shack-up, and that's somehow "better"?

Yet, if someone wanted to adopt these children, they'd have had to jump through 55 hoops AND pay thousands of dollars for the opportunity.

What's wrong with this? WHY is extended family (the same family that nurtured the bad parents in the first place) considered "better"?

This is an extremely sad story. Children never, never deserve to be mistreated. Children are innocent and deserve everything good while growing up. Thank goodness there was someone out there and near by who did the right thing and called the authorities. Perhaps these children might have a chance now to heal from their physical and mental wounds of abuse. My heart and prayers go out to each dear child.

Perhaps Utah needs a better child abandonment law...like the one that Wyoming accidently got. I would far rather have parents safely dump their kids on/with the state (with no repercussions) if and when they can't handle them, then for us to read stories like this. Some parents DO get in over their head...or they never had proper parenting skills in the first place and we should realize that. Just because you can GET pregnant doesn't mean you should be forced to raise it...

These despicable abusers were not having problems "coping" with the children - they didn't want them in the first place. Selfish, selfish, selfish.

Why are their no arrests?

Thank you to that wonderful neighbor that called the police. You are an angel.

Read the story again. Both were arrested on child abuse charges.

The crappy thing about this story is the aunt and her boyfriend had the kids. I'm not sure what cps could have done or anyone else. Thanks to some great neighbors who saw that young girl. Unless all of us are willing to let these officers in our house any day of the week then we can't say a thing. I'm willing to let that happen. It's the same as wire tapping or anything else. If you have nothing to hide then let everything be on display!

The system is broken. We wanted to become foster to adopt parents, but decided against it because the system leans so heavily in favor of birth families. We decided it would be too painful to bring a neglected/abused child into our home knowing there was a high probability that we would just have to give her back to someone in the birth family who was responsible for the neglect in the first place. MANY people would line up to foster and/or adopt children if the system would stop bending over backwards to give incompent people a third, fourth and fifth chances at parenthood.

Very sad story. It broke my heart. I pray the little boy can get well and never, ever, come back to his family. I pray they are adopted for a loving family who will give proper care to them.

The system may be broken, but it's our system. Because of democracy, we are able to change what we feel is not working. However, it will only change with more advocacy and funding. . .More people getting involved. Comments on a website wont go very far to initiate change. The flip side of democracy is, that we are responsible for public policy. We only have ourselves to blame as a culture. We, (and I include myself in this "we") are to blame for the ineffective Foster Care Program. Foster care has historically been ineffective to say the least. Will it every change?

A few years ago, I drove in the neighborhood area, and I spotted the 3 years old boy licked the gutter water on the street. Gross!!! I stopped and grabbed him away from the gutter water. He vomited. I knocked the house to call 911. We followed the boy where he lived. We found his parents were drunk. I called the police to give the address and check on them.

I am sad to see how the parents treat their children: abuse, neglect, not give them food or clothes or they babysit themself without supervisor.

I hope these children feel better and stay with someone who is good person to take care of them.

If the people responsible for this ever get out of prison, then a judge isn't doing his job.

Who are these people?

When a nation loses respect for the sanctity of life (abortion, euthanasia), the people are in huge trouble. Child abuse is one of the results of a society that has so many material expectations and so little in solid family values. Indeed these "guardians" should never have a chance to be near these children again. The children should be placed for adoption, and the adoptive parents should be given help with caring for them. We do need more Good Samaritan neighbors too.

CPS in Utah is overwhelmed. Several years ago I was investigated for child abuse because of vindictive in-laws. My children were happy, healthy, injury free and no history of injury. Thankfully the social worker assigned to us could see that. Coupled with a few things that were said when I was reported and after an investigation I was cleared. This put my family through h*ll. Our worker told me that unfortunately about half her time is wasted on such cases because each reported case has to be investigated even though she knew from the beginning it would most likely turn out the way it did. People, don't make unwarranted reports out of revenge or anger so that these cases that are real can be a priority. Pray for these children.

Thank you neighbor for following your heart and making the call.

We have space, food, heat, and a house full of loving kids for these two children to join. I'd take them in a minute. And, we're not alone. There's hundreds, if not thousands, all over the country that could and would offer the same. I hope someone, other than their criminal parents, get the chance to show these kids what being part of a family and love is all about.

I don't want to hear anything about the parent's upbringing or situation either. Abuse is never the answer.

CPS is overworked that's true - but they can also be fooled by parents that are smart enough with kids that are scared enough of their parents to not speak up. I once reported a neighbor - both kids were covered in bruises and the mother had two black eyes. The eight year old sat on my couch and told me his dad beat him up. They did nothing except tell him that it was me that reported him - I was afraid I was going to be the next one beat up!

There is absolutely no proof that "child abuse is one of the results of a society that has so many material expectations and so little in solid family values." Child abuse can and does exist in any society regardless of its values. You should be more concerned about a society that puts all the emphasis on "saving life" and then forgets the children after they are born.

Yes, there's such a need for good families to foster and adopt the kids. Homes where stability and love are given.

Not just the cute little toddlers and such, there's a need for the older kids. Many that wonder if they'll ever get forever family.

I was abused too, but society at that time would never had cared. We just never mentioned it. We looked like a perfect American family.

Utah and other states need to get tougher on laws on abuse of helpless child and animals. Gandhi said that you can guage a society on how well it treats it's helpless beings. In the US, we're not looking too good.

About 5 years ago, I saw an ad for the need of Foster Parents in Utah. There was a phone # to call to become a Foster Parent. My husband and I felt that we could take in a child as our kids were grown and had started families of their own. I was in my early 50's and my husband 46. We left all the information on our interest to welcome a child into our home. I had called twice getting a recorded message each time and I left the same information each time. We never got a call back. Are there so many willing families and so few children that they need not consider us or even call us back? I think not....
To see these poor kids treated this way when so many families have the desire and means to give a child a loving home just makes me sick and MAD! What is wrong with this picture!

I hate to think that things like this go on my own city...but they do, everywhere, in your city too, your neighborhood, maybe even your street. We need to keep our eyes open and protect our little ones.

As to the neighbor who butted in and called 911, THANK YOU! There can't be much else worse than living with regrets, and thank goodness that your timely -- and probably scary and doubtful -- actions may have saved the lives of these children. I hope they can find love, peace, and comfort, in spite of "the system."

CiCi’s (1:36 p.m. Oct. 16, 2008) experience was interesting to read. Several years ago we were foster parents in a Midwest state. We had an elementary school aged girl in our home in respite care who had made it obvious she did not want to be away from her own home. I doubt it would have matter which foster home. She accused our son (a year or two older than she) of molestation to get out of our home. There was a big investigation that eventually cleared our son but that kind of soured us on being foster parents. As has been mentioned, it’s a flawed system with a number of things to it that prevent if from being more of a safe haven for those that need it.

I am very shocked to read about this. I know it goes on, but it is never easy to read about. I truly hope the guardians get what they have coming to them. As for the children, they are in my thoughts and prayers. I truly hope that they can recover and find a loving home to go to.

I am very sad right now and hope that the 3 kids get better. I hope that the two guardians never get out of prison and see how it feels to get locked up.
To the 3 kids.. i know what happened is not right.. but i know things will get better. To the oldest girl..thanks for being brave for your younger two siblings.
And to the neighbor who called the police.. thanks for calling the police......