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Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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The attorney for the couple accused of abusing five children seeks their release on bail, but the judge says no.
By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published March 16, 2005
INVERNESS - John and Linda Dollar, the Beverly Hills couple accused of torturing and starving five adopted children, traveled to Utah to help them think clearly, not to escape the law, the husband said Tuesday.
John Dollar, 59, spoke publicly about the case during a court hearing to get bail set for the couple, who are in the county jail. Circuit Judge Ric Howard denied the request.
"We were seeking God's will into what we were doing," said Dollar.
The Dollars had several problems weighing on their minds at the time of the trip, he said. Shortly after a judge removed the children from the Dollars, the couple drove to Utah.
John Dollar had done real estate appraisal work in Utah, he said, and both thought it was a good place to go to find peace. In addition to the legal problems with their children, they were behind on payments for their RV and feared John Dollar might have prostate cancer, he said.
They had no idea they faced criminal charges and were unaware of a hearing set for Jan. 31 in the child custody case, they said. When their attorney called them and told them of the manhunt, they headed back to Florida, John Dollar said. Before they could make it back, they were arrested in San Juan County, Utah, he said.
Assistant State Attorney Richard Buxman questioned John Dollar about two phone messages he left for Shanda Rae Shelton, the Dollars' 25-year-old adopted daughter who is married and lives in Pasco County.
In the messages, the Dollars told Shelton it would probably be the last time she heard from them and apologized for what they had done, Buxman said. The Dollars may have planned to harm themselves, he said, adding that duct tape, a hose and two guns were found in the Dollars' Lexus at their arrest.
John Dollar said the duct tape and hose were for the couple's RV. He said the shotgun belonged to his late father.
The Dollars' attorney, Charles Vaughn, told the judge the Dollars should be allowed to live at their home on Pink Poppy Drive in Pine Ridge while the case moves through the court system.
After hearing Vaughn's argument, Howard decided the couple would remain in jail.
He listed several factors in his decision, including allegations the couple intimidated their children, attempted to cover up abuses, fled to Utah after learning of an investigation into their treatment of the children and left messages with their oldest daughter that hinted they planned to kill themselves.
The couple have pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated child abuse and torture, Vaughn said. The first status conference in the case is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 11.
Bruce Barrow, a longtime friend of the Dollars, testified that John and Linda were a normal couple who cared for their children and home.
"They were one big happy family at that time," Barrow said.
-- Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 860-7312 or vansickle@sptimes.com
[Last modified March 16, 2005, 01:31:14]
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