Neighbors react to alleged P'cola abuse

Three people are in jail charged with aggravated abuse of a disabled adult in what Escambia County Deputies are calling a horrific case of abuse.

Rondal Hale, 59, his wife DeeAnn Hale, 58, and Clinton Carr, 53, were arrested on Saturday after deputies found a mentally handicapped woman handcuffed in the Hales' backyard.

A surreal scene

“It’s probably one of the worst cases we've seen. It touched a lot of people,” said Deputy Matt Baxter.

Deputies responded to a home on Christine Street around Saturday afternoon after a neighbor called 911. When they heard screams from the backyard, they rushed in.

There, they saw the victim, a 21-year-old mentally handicapped woman, with two pieces of wet plywood that read “I am a liar and a thief,” chained to her neck.

Investigators said witnesses also said Hale and Carr had beaten the girl and sprayed her in the face with a water hose.

Her hands were restrained behind her back and with pink fuzzy handcuffs around her wrists.

Abusive guardians?

“Throughout the investigation, they determined that the girl had been out back for some time. She was being punished for taking two pieces of candy from a setup at church that her mom used to feed the homeless,” Baxter said.

Deputies arrested the adoptive mother Deean Hale, her husband Rondal Hale and Clinton Carr, a family friend.

As deputies spoke to the victim they also noticed ligature marks around her neck where she told them a rope had been tied earlier.

Deputies said they also saw a four-inch gash on the back of her head where, the victim said, one of the suspects had hit her in the head with a bucket two days prior. The wound had super glue in it where the suspects had attempted to close it, as well as thread where they'd tried to sew it shut.

Patricia Hilton has lived next door to the Hale’s for years. She said is a firm believer in punishment but her methods are more tame, like timeout.

“That wasn’t punishment, that was torture," said Hilton.

Lisa McLendon lives across the street. She has a mentally handicapped child and said there’s never an excuse for violence.

“It’s very challenging because everyday is a different day. There are organizations to learn how to treat them and work with them," McLendon said.

Authorities said the victim and three other children were taken out of the home.

“She’s in a better place now. Hopefully they’ll find a couple that will take them in and do right by them,” Hilton said.

The suspects are being held in Escambia County Jail with no bond.