MIAMI – Two caregivers were charged Wednesday with abusing their 4-year-old foster child, whose unsolved disappearance rocked Florida's child welfare agency two years ago.
Geralyn Graham (search) was charged with kidnapping and three counts of aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm for actions in the months leading up to the 2001 disappearance of Rilya Wilson (search). Graham is already serving a prison sentence for an unrelated fraud.
Her roommate, Pamela Graham (search), was charged with child abuse causing no great harm and child neglect.
Geralyn Graham locked the girl in an animal cage, tied her to her bed and confined her in a laundry room, the arrest report said. She could get a life sentence if convicted.
Pamela Graham, who is cooperating with investigators, is accused of failing to protect the girl from the abuse. She could get 10 years.
The state Department of Children & Families discovered in April 2002 that Rilya was missing and that its caseworkers had not made required visits to check on her for at least 15 months.
The Grahams say the 4-year-old girl was taken from their home by a DCF worker in January 2001. The agency and police denied that.
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