Oklahoma Couple Accused of Tying Teen Daughter to Tree for Three Days as Punishment

An Oklahoma man and his girlfriend have been arrested after they allegedly tied his daughter to a tree for three days, according to authorities.

On July 28, deputies were called to a home in Vera after receiving a call about a 15-year-old girl suffering from suspected child abuse, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

On the scene, deputies said they found the teen attached to a tree in the yard.

The teen was reportedly sleeping on a piece of carpet and later told investigators she had been tied to the tree multiple times over a three-day span.

Police arrested her father, 40-year-old Johnny James, and his girlfriend, 42-year-old Kayla Clark, on child abuse charges.

The girl was visiting James from Texas, according to court documents obtained by the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise.

James allegedly told police that his daughter had developmental issues, and he tied her up to the tree using ratchet straps as a form of punishment.

The father also claimed he did not want her to urinate or defecate on herself in the home, so he left her outside, police said.

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James and Clark were booked into the Washington County jail. Official records indicate James faces abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse of a child charges, while Clark was in custody for enabling child neglect.

Relatives of the girl reportedly told police they did not report James earlier because they were afraid of him.

Other children present in the home at the time were placed in the care of Department of Human Services Child Welfare.