Police: Father arrested after one child found in dog cage, another naked outside

Tulsa County Jail

Tulsa, Okla., police say William Lewallen was arrested for child abuse/neglect.

A Tulsa, Okla., man was arrested after his 16-month-old daughter was found locked in a metal dog cage and covered with feces and his naked 3-year old son was found crying outside on a cold afternoon, police said.

William Todd Lewallen, 47, was arrested for felony child abuse or neglect. He was found in a stupor in bed with a third child, a 3-year-old boy who was also naked, Tulsa police said. 

The three children were turned over to the custody of the state Department of Human Services.


Police made the disturbing find on Sunday afternoon when they responded to a neighbor’s call about a child crying outside, with the temperature in the low 40s.

“He was screaming, ‘Daddy, let me in! I’m cold!’” one neighbor, Matthew Testerman, told the Tulsa World.

Other neighbors took the boy in and warmed him up.

Arriving officers heard screaming and crying coming from inside the house. They looked through a small back window and saw a child inside a metal dog crate, Officer Leland Ashley with the Tulsa Police Department told local media.

Officers kicked open the back door. "Upon entry officers were immediately hit with the overwhelming stench of feces," Ashley was quoted as saying.

Police removed the 16-month-old girl from the kennel. She was wearing only a diaper and was covered in feces, police said.

Officers found the father passed out in a bed in the master bedroom, with another naked toddler asleep in the bed.

The father reportedly told police he took narcotic pain medicine, a muscle relaxant and an anti-seizure medication with a beer and then "laid down to take a rest."

"The defendant was unaware that a naked child had been locked out of his house and was outside in the 40 degree weather for over 20 minutes," the arrest report states, according to NewsOn6.com. "The screaming child in the dog kennel did not wake the defendant nor did the officers kicking the door down to rescue the toddler in the dog cage."

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The children showed no sign of physical injury, according to police.

Leland said the children’s mother was at work at the time and arrived home just as officers were preparing to leave.

Lewallen was being held in the Tulsa jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.               

Records show he has been charged in eight felony cases in four counties since 1989, according to the Tulsa World. He has been convicted in the past of joyriding and possession of a precursor to manufacture a controlled drug – methamphetamine, according to NewsOn6.com.

The investigation is continuing, Ashley told NBC News on Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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I hope the powers that be do everything to care for and protect all of these babies. I have no confidence in the mother's judgement either. I am praying for them these children.

    Reply#353 - Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:11 PM EST

    OK....

    "The father reportedly told police he took narcotic pain medicine, a muscle relaxant and an anti-seizure medication with a beer and then "laid down to take a rest."

    Took a rest? From what?

      Reply#354 - Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:22 PM EST

      Why wasn't the mother arrested too? The kids had no clothes and had feces all over them and in the house. She wasn't doing anything to help the kids. Get the children out of the crappy place. Let someone nice adopt the little children. Give them a chance in life.

        Reply#355 - Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:23 PM EST

        And a black man goes to jail for life for just one of these 8 felonies....yeah now tell me we don't live in a racist society...this bastard should have never been allowed to breed.

        hopefully him and his wife go to jail for a long time...

          Reply#356 - Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:32 PM EST

          1) Take the children away- the mother had to know- or she ignored what was going on.

          2) Any one ever convicted of drug possession/drug dealing needs to be sterilzed- end of story !!!! So this idiocy and sin will not be promulgated and so children are protected from filthy souls, and so that there is no PUBLIC AID GIVEN OUT....

          3 ) The citizens of TULSA must cry out against this - and demand change- even if the State or Federal authorities do nothing- we all have to clean up our own towns...Get back to God America, He is our only Hope! :)

            Reply#357 - Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:36 PM EST

            now isnt that just like ok. charge the father but let the mother go...nice really nice.

              Reply#358 - Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:43 PM EST

              Standing outside without clothes in 40 degree weather is just cruel.

              I wonder why none of the children were wearing clothes?

              Good thing the neighbors did something about the situation instead of ignoring it thinking it's not their problem!!!!

                Reply#359 - Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:29 PM EST

                As an ex-police officer,(retired) I found that in most cases of child abuse neighbors and or relitives were aware of the problem and did nothing. They did not wish to get involved. Come on people, pick up the phone. If nothing else, advise the 911 operator you wish no contact. Normally, your wish will be respected. As an officer, I would rather answer dozens of unfounded then a call for a seriously injured or dead child that could have been prevented with a damn 2 minute phone call.

                  Reply#360 - Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:20 PM EST

                  I think I knew this guy in texas back in 2004. We kicked his butt out of my aunts rental trailer. He left everything behind. He had a 12 yr old daughter and a son with an old brain injury that left him with a hand that wouldnt work. They were all on meth. Loads of drug paraphernalia were left behind, but no actual drugs. Social workers had his 12 yr old take the morning after pill when it was discovered that she was having sex with a 17 yr old. But they couldnt take her away from that house. If she had been honest with them about her drug use, they could have helped her. She would be 20 now, her bro would be near 30, what is this guy doing still breeding???????? omg I am a great parent and have 5. He must have had at least just as many.

                    Reply#361 - Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:25 PM EST

                    Put him a cage and cover him with POOP! Bet he screams and cries!! Hope so!

                      Reply#362 - Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:48 PM EST

                      It is time we have strong laws against the mistreatment of any type for children. I would turn in anyone who was abusing their children. But until we get laws severe enough to make people stop and think, this type of behavior will continue. And anyone who murders a child or who molest children should never walk free again. Those here who say they don't believe in God, you are the ones who will know the truth when it is to late. The government will allow abortions, so why won't they make sterlization against these misfits who are not fit to have children? I will never understand why much needed restrictions are not in place. If you believe in abortions, then why are you protesting against what you have read?

                        Reply#363 - Mon Nov 19, 2012 5:27 PM EST

                        Why is it that people inclined to do such things never have problems with fertility? Second, why a dog cage as supposed to say, a Pack N' Play? Lastly, why are all three of the children either naked or nearly naked? Stories like this are so disturbing and repugnant; it is really hard to read. The kind of person who could do this to a child (whether drugs are involved or not) is worthless garbage. I just feel bad for the children on so many levels, including the fact that this piece of white trash is their father and they have 50% of his DNA. His mug shot could be put on condom wrappers, he's so damn ugly.

                          Reply#364 - Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:04 PM EST

                          @ key2joy

                          This poor excuse for a human has been living off of the tax payers for the past four years.

                            Reply#365 - Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:09 PM EST

                            Prescription drug abuse, a bunch of kids dependent on the government, from Oklahoma. anyone want to bet he votes republican?

                              Reply#366 - Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:00 PM EST

                              Geeeeez.......

                                Reply#367 - Fri Feb 8, 2013 8:59 AM EST
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