Custodial dad, step still being investigated for beating 15-year-old son, shackling him to bed for five months; what happened to this boy's mother? (Pooler, Georgia)

Though the reporter goes into a long treatise on "intergenerational cycles of abuse" blah blah, some very basic questions are not answered, much less asked: How did this abusive father get custody? Who gave it to him and why? And what happened to the mother of this boy?

The custodial dad is identified as DANIEL KENDZIERSKI.  

http://www.myfoxal.com/story/27917308/investigation-continues-after-parents-arrested-for-reportedly-shackling-teen-to-bed

Investigation continues after parents arrested for reportedly shackling teen to bed

Posted: Jan 22, 2015 4:35 PM EST Updated: Jan 22, 2015 6:00 PM EST

By Conny Cooper

POOLER, GA (WTOC) - Police are continuing to investigate after a Pooler teen reported he was beaten and kept shackled to his bed. His father and stepmother have both been charged with child abuse.

Police said Christine and Daniel Kendzierski kept the 15-year-old shackled to a metal bed for five months. According to the police report, the boy's 12-year-old brother was forced to act as his jailer, unlocking his shackles so he could go to the bathroom and to school, then locking him back up again.

Forensics officers and detectives were out at the house on Thursday, searching the home and taking photos and bringing out bags of evidence.

When asked whether more charges would be coming for the parents, Lt. Karen Zantow said, “Not today. Maybe later, I do not know, but not today.”

All six children who lived in the home are now in the custody of the Department of Family and Children Services. “We're just continuing with the investigation. Trying to generate and see if there is a case here to continue on with so we can help protect kids," Zantow said.

This went on for five months, according to a police report. Police said Daniel Kenzierski gave his son what he called, quote, “iron chair beatings”, and that the shackles were punishment.

The boy told a classmate, and the classmate told his father. One week ago the father told police.

“The kid said he called DFCS before and they did nothing,” Nicholas Hargroves said.

According to a police report, Christine and Daniel Kenzierski didn't realize the punishment was abuse, with Christine saying she was only doing what had been done to her as a child.

"Most of us did not have to endure that kind of punishment as a child, but I guess if you did, that's in the back of your mind,” said Psychologist Dr. Susan Lamb. “This is what normal parents do."

Lamb shuddered when she read the report.

“It is a tough one,” she said.

But she said intergenerational cycles of abuse are far too common.

“People are doing what was done to them,” said Lamb. “It's what's there inside them, and it takes a lot of effort to break the patterns.”

Both parents are now free on bond. A date has not been set for their plea hearing.

Daniel Kenzierski faces an additional charge of false imprisonment, and more charges could be coming.