Texas teen discovered in Oklahoma tied to tree

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Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a child abuse case on Sunday morning near Vera, Oklahoman.

Upon arrival to the home, deputies and representatives from the Department of Human Services Child Welfare found a teenaged girl tied up in a yard, apparently having slept on a piece of carpet.

The investigation revealed that the girl was visiting family in the area from Texas, and had been tied to a tree with ratchet straps for over 24 hours.

Deputies reported that the girl's father, Johnny James, told officials he restrained her as a form of discipline and she had mental development issues.

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James claimed he tied his 15-year-old daughter outside to prevent her from urinating and defecating indoors, adding that having her tied up outdoors prevented a mess. He claimed this was due to his daughter wanting to live with her mother.

James’ girlfriend, Kayla Clark, who was present at the scene, told investigators she was aware of the situation. She explained her silence by saying she was “frazzled.”

According to reports, other family members who were aware of the situation told investigators they were afraid of James, which prevented them from contacting authorities earlier.

The girl was taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries, and DHS Child Welfare took her into state custody. Several other children in the home were also placed in DHS custody. The ages of those children are unclear as is whether James is their parent.

Deputies arrested James and Clark on charges of child abuse and neglect. James' bond was set at $500,000. Clark's bond hasn't been set.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Texas teen discovered in Oklahoma tied to tree