Custodial dad, step arrested for abusing 12-year-old daughter; girl in critical condition (The Netherlands)

I don't pick up a lot of stories from the Netherlands, but in format, it is virtually indistinguishable from the stories we see in every other country. Custodial dad and step misrepresented as "parents." Zero mention of the mother or how Dad acquired custody. No interest in whether a father who did this to the kids was equally capable of doing something to their mother. No curiosity as to how she "disappeared" from the picture.

But we do see an interesting hint here in that that the step's involvement in a child "protection" agency (i.e. abuser protection agency) may have helped them get away with this for so long.

UNNAMED DAD

http://www.nltimes.nl/2015/02/25/parents-girl-critical-condition-arrested/

Parents of girl in critical condition arrested

Posted on Feb 25, 2015 by Hanna Daych

A seriously injured 12-year old girl from Roelofarendsveen, Zuid-Holland, who was taken to a hospital last week, was abused for years by her father and stepmother, according to the family’s neighbors, an Omroepwest.nl report reveals. Both are suspected of abuse and neglect and are being held in custody. The father will face a magistrate on Friday.

The girl was in a critical condition last Monday and had to be resuscitated four times before being transported to hospital, neighbors comment. When doctors noticed serious wounds not caused by CPR, the hospital notified police. The girl remains in an unstable condition, the broadcaster said.

Neighbors on Geestweg say that they have repeatedly reported problems with the family to child care authorities and emergency services. They say the brother of the abused girl was often locked in a shed and made to stay on the street in his underpants with tape over his mouth as a punishment. The children were systematically beaten and did not get enough food.

The case has lead to unrest, since the stepmother is the Vice Chairman of a child protection organization.