The American Mind

Charlie Sykes has dubbed the horrible story of an Oshkosh, WI girl locked in her room for two years the “Cinderella Case.” Like the fairy tale heroine the 13-year old was kept in her room for 20+ hours a day according to the criminal complaint. She only got brief respites to go to the bathroom (only one minute, timed), eat (if she her the call), and chores (picking up dog feces). Unlike the Disney movie no Prince Charming rescued her. She was saved when her monster parents took her to a hospital because she was hearing voices. It was there she told authorities her shocking tale.

As with all things the criminal complaint may not be the whole story. We know the 13-year old’s maternal grandmother tried to find her in the Engstrom’s house last December. Beth Redmann ceased her search when Lynn Engstrom called the police. To add insult to injury the grandmother was issued a citation for disorderly conduct. As for the girl being in her room 22-hours a day Oshkosh, WI school officials say otherwise:

The details surrounding the girl’s whereabouts since February 2005 remain unclear. Although Lynn Engstrom told detectives that the girl only left her room to eat meals, use the bathroom and do chores, Oshkosh public and private school officials said the girl continued to be enrolled in classes during much of that period.

Richard Slattery, the principal at Grace Lutheran School, told The Northwestern on Wednesday that the girl was enrolled at the school until June 2006 and was attending classes. However, he said the girl did not return for the 2006-07 school year. John Sprangers, human resources director for the Oshkosh Area School District, said the girl’s parents enrolled her in Oshkosh schools on Dec. 11.

When contacted Thursday, officials at Grace Lutheran School declined further comment on the case on the advice of their attorney. Public school officials said confidentiality laws prevent them from releasing the girl’s attendance records, but they are looking into the case to see if procedures were followed.

The Engstrom’s would still be monsters in my eyes if we learn they let the girl go to school only to lock her up once she got home.

When police went to Lynn and Clint Engstrom’s house they didn’t find a squalor but middle-class opulence:

A search warrant carried out showed that the home was lavishly furnished with high-end electronics and toys for three other children, however the room were the girl was confined had no toys, books or other things associated with a child, the complaint states. Detectives also noted the room contained a single light bulb and there was no heat or air conditioning duct work and that the only source of heat was a space heater that was controlled from outside the room.

The Engstroms are charged with causing mental harm to a child which could give them each 12 years of jail time. But even the maximum sentence doesn’t give back “Cinderella’s” two years of hell.

“Couple Charged with Locking Girl in Bedroom for Nearly Two Years”

“Clint and Lynn Engstrom Accused of Keeping Daughter Captive for Two Years”