Doctor says 12-year-old boy is ‘clearly a victim of child torture’

WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — A young boy showed up at a home in Wyoming in November barefoot and wearing nothing but pajamas, leading police to discover his alleged abuse.

A man and a woman are charged with abusing a 12-year-old child. The victim found freedom after running away saying, “I can’t take it anymore.”

Court documents highlight a sickening tale of what led to the arrest of Seith Dawson and Arika Dixon.

In a forensic interview, the boy says not only did he have to sleep in a closet, but when he was “bad”, he would be forced to stand in a corner tied up from sunrise to sunset wearing a diaper.

He also said he was told if he had to use the bathroom, he’d have to go in his pants. Food was also withheld from him on a regular basis.

The boy added Dawson would hit him with hands, belts and a charging cord from his phone. We went to the residence, and asked about the alleged abuse.

“I’m not answering any questions. We’re not abusing * here.”

Eyewitness News cut the audio where the woman who answered the door identified the victim by name.

A doctor told police, after examining the boy, he had numerous injuries indicating repeated abuse all over his body.

“It’s…I just can’t fathom that,” said Elaine Buxton, a neighbor.

We caught up with Buxton, who lives across the street. She says she saw one of their kids in a corner store one day. He let her go in front of him in line, and she was moved by the gesture.

“I told him to go get a candy bar. He got three bars, they weren’t really candy, they looked like nutritious bars,” Buxton said.

The couple did have two other children in their care. Eyewitness News is told all of the children were removed from their home.

Dixon is out on a $10,000 unsecured bail, while Dawson is out on a $25,000 dollar unsecure bail.

Dixon faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, false imprisonment, harassment, and disorderly conduct.

Dawson faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, endangering the welfare of children, strangulation, false imprisonment, harassment, and disorderly conduct.