Hearing set for couple charged in torture of a Muskogee boy

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A Muskogee couple will face a judge in November after being accused of child abuse. <br/><br/>Investigators say Melanie Ann Smith and her half brother Roy Albert Smith ``systematically

Saturday, July 16th 2005, 6:33 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A Muskogee couple will face a judge in November after being accused of child abuse.

Investigators say Melanie Ann Smith and her half brother Roy Albert Smith ``systematically tortured'' a four-year-old boy.

Officials say they bound him with tape and fed him one package of noodles every-day.

Authorities say the child was repeatedly beaten and starved for months.

The boy is recovering from cuts and bruises caused by 2.5 pound barbells that fell on his head and feet.

The boy told investigators he was forced to hold the weights over his head as a punishment for wetting the bed.

Investigators noted that there was only two cans of soup in the trailer where they found the boy.

However, officials say there was dry and canned dog food, dog vitamins and dog shampoo for the two dogs.