Child, 2, found in cage for stray dogs

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 3, 2003

[7/3/03]A 2-year-old removed from a city-set animal cage early Wednesday by neighbors responding to her screams had no visible injuries other than ant bites, authorities said.

The child’s mother will not face charges related to neglect, but the 2-year-old daughter of Motyka Gibson, 24, of 3104 Oak St., remained in the custody of the Department of Human Services today.

Terrance Chambers, who lives at 3108 Oak, said he and his wife woke up before 6 a.m. to the sound of the toddler screaming.

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“The baby had a dirty T-shirt on, no panties and was in a dog cage with ants biting her,” Chambers said.

The child had apparently been in the cage for 5 to 10 minutes. Chambers, who moved to his house about five days ago, said he, his wife and neighbors didn’t recognize the little girl, so they called Vicksburg police.

Today, city sources said the wire mesh cage was placed between the Chambers’ house and a vacant house at 3106 Oak St. by the Vicksburg Animal Control Department to capture a stray dog reported in the area.

The child had apparently slipped out of her house and into the trap. Vicksburg Police Department spokesman DaVon Grey said officers responded at about 5:47 a.m. Paramedics were called, and the child was treated at Chambers’ house. She was later taken to River Region Medical Center and found to be in good health, but with insect bites, sources said.

Gibson was taken to the police department for questioning, and an outstanding warrant for simple assault was found. She was booked on that charge, Grey said, but after talking with the people in the District Attorney’s Office and someone from the Department of Human Services, no charge was filed related to the incident with the 2-year-old.

Wednesday afternoon, Gibson said she didn’t know exactly how her daughter made her way outside and into an animal cage. “I can’t say what happened,” she said. “I was asleep.” She said she works as a nurse’s aide.

The DHS issued a statement saying the girl was in the agency’s custody. The agency is working with local law enforcement and the Warren County Youth Court in the investigation. “At this point, DHS officials have submitted its findings to the court,” said spokesman Cory Wofford.

Gibson reportedly has five children, ranging in age from 10 months to 11 years. The other four were believed to be with relatives, but were not in DHS custody.

A neighbor living nearby said Gibson and her children had been living in the house for about two months. The cage the child was caught inside is rectangular and has a metal disk at its rear. When an animal touches food on the disk, the cage door swings closed.

It can by opened only by pulling inward.

Vicksburg Mayor Laurence Leyens said he does not know how many of the cages are in use throughout the city today, but the cage should not be blamed for what happened.

“I think the cage may have saved the child’s life,” Leyens said. “If a 2-year-old is out running around in the night, she could have fallen in a hole or gotten run over by a car.

“The problem wasn’t the cage. It was the parents not knowing where their child was,” he said. Leyens has a 3-year-old daughter.