Son Turns in Parents Paul and Debbie Salvetti for Locking Him in His Room and Starving Him
In North Carolina, the young son of Paul and Debbie Salvetti middle-school aged son told school authories and police that he was locked in his room and given little to eat.
The 13-year-old boy told authorities at Southeast Middle School that was being abused at home by his parents. He was not a student at the school as he had been taken out of the school system in January to be homeschooled. The boy said his room’s window was boarded up and the door was locked from the outside. He escaped by kicking a hole through the wall to get out.
School authorities then notified the Winston-Salem police who visited the school to investigate the child abuse report. Police interviewed the boy, whose name has not been released, and noticed that he was malnourished. He weighed 87 pounds that day - two pounds lighter than two years ago. (Remember he’s 13!) The boy gained 10 pounds in four days after being taken to a hospital.
The boy is now in the custody of the Department of Social Services and his parents are in jail on $5,000 bond.
Paul Joseph Salvetti, 44, is charged with one count of felony child abuse and one count of misdemeanor child neglect. Debbie Salvetti, 38, is charged with two counts of felony child abuse and one count of misdemeanor child neglect.
Police were investigating the Salvettis since May, when their son ran away. I’m sure the parents will use his running away as an excuse to locking him in his room. But starving him? I’d like to see them explain that.
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50 opinions for Son Turns in Parents Paul and Debbie Salvetti for Locking Him in His Room and Starving Him
Karen
Jun 9, 2007 at 2:39 pm
What I’m sure of, is that some will use this case as an example of their belief that homeschoolers are crazy, abusive, etc. and should be stopped, or at least severely restricted and regulated.
Never seems to occur to these people that a public school parent who is similarly abusive does not prove that public school parents are crazy, abusive, etc. and should be stopped or regulated.
Mom of four, so far...
Jun 9, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I hear you Karen. Like homeschoolers have the corner on child abusers and crazies? I don’t think so! Look at all the cases on here of children who were *IN* public school yet not saved from the abuse they were enduring at home.
NIKKI
Jun 10, 2007 at 7:34 pm
THE MOM LOOKS WELL FED! OVER FED IF U ASK ME!
Gene
Jun 11, 2007 at 4:55 am
Are you people nuts? Get out of your own petty problems and realize that CHILD ABUSE is the issue. This could happen anywhere, but you’re choosing to make it a home schooling being picked on issue shows a bias that is decidedly unhealthy. Get out in the real world and see the abuse children of all ages are being treated with. Then worry about our children here and everywhere, not your own pathetic issues. Children die every day at the hands of the parents who are supposed to love them!
Kathy
Jun 11, 2007 at 5:38 am
Yeah, what Gene said…
Shel
Jun 11, 2007 at 7:15 am
My first thought was this was a 13 yr. old who was mad at his parents and using the system to try and get away from them..or get them in trouble. After reading the articles, I see that he was malnurished and the abuse is legitimate.
What is going on with parents locking their children in the rooms and starving them to near death? Randall Piercy is another parent recently who did the same thing to his son…different reasons, same scenario!
I’m pleased this child got away and sought the help of authorities. At his age, he very well could have just run away and his parents would never have had to pay for their crimes. This story does make me wonder how many of our country’s runaway teenagers have similar stories to tell and if their parents were prosecuted, could we save a generation of kids from a harsh life on the streets?
As far as home-schooling goes, I think it’s a shame that parents use home-schooling as an excuse with the school systems in their area to hide the abuse they subject their children to. I was under the impression that even home-schooled children have to have progress updates within their counties for educational purposes…I could be wrong. Even so, I personally wouldn’t attack home-schooling parents for a few “bad apples”. I think the concept is great if done for the right reasons. I have a neighbor who home-schooled her four children and they are a wonderful family with very intelligent and loving kids! Home schooling is a lot of hard work and I commend the parents of home schoolers!
Anonymous
Jun 13, 2007 at 7:29 am
The boy was adopted by Paul and his first wife (who sadly passed away from Lupus about 9 years ago). The father stopped all communications with the boy’s maternal grandparents some years ago. He’s clearly a nutjob. I fear for his adoptive daughter, as well.
Sad
Jun 13, 2007 at 8:37 am
How sad. These children had the chance to have a great life and a great family had Paul not made the selfish decision to get involved with this woman. These two individuals have a total of 5 children together. Hopefully, the system will not let the other children down.
The fact that the homeschooling was mentioned seems to be clouding the issue. What they have done is unacceptable and they should be punished, not the children.
Weapon of Mass Disturbance
Jun 14, 2007 at 5:33 am
And this kid should care about human life because…
Think about it!
Jun 15, 2007 at 3:36 pm
First off, homeschooling has absolutely nothing to do with this. Unless, you want to admit the FACT that the son has sat in the classroom of the public school system for the last 2 years with the same teachers in middle school and no one has noticed that he hasn’t gained wieght, grown, and had obvious extreme social withdrawl issues, an no one has got this poor child counseling! I know this was the Parent’s attempt to help the child who was fearfully shy and could not function socially, so they tried to help him, when this supposed “system” was failing him (by “trying” homeschooling). But, of course, their all too happy now to come in after the family is completely destroyed and twist the knife. I’ve known this family for over 2 years now, been in their home, and attend church with them (that’s right, these folks are real, Spirit-filled Christians, living in an imperfect world with the rest of us, stumbling forward and dealing with issues, just like the rest of us.). They have two precious teen daughters (one of which was adopted along with the son at birth) who are very healthy, normal, sing in the youth choir and are very socially active. Paul and Deb’s baby girl of 6 takes dance and is in sunday school with my son, who misses her in class and asks for her every week. My heart goes out to this baby girl of the family who can’t possibly come close to understanding why she has been ripped out of her home, away from her loving daddy’s arms. How will she ever be mad to feel secure again when she does return home, always questioning” will someone come and take me away from my daddy and mommy?” Was there conflict in the home, of coarse! Was there abuse with the son, maybe. Should the parents went about getting a troubled son help a little differently, of course, maybe, even sent him away before things exploded in violence against him, in order to save the girl’s lives from being ripped out from under them. I’d personally like to know the parent’s story, especially since the media only writes the worst of and exagerates everything to one side!
heather and angel
Jun 20, 2007 at 11:04 pm
thats messed up that they would lock a child up what if he died in that room of not eating i would like to see them expain that one???
Believe the Media, yea right!
Jun 25, 2007 at 12:05 pm
You can’t always believe everything you read.
What happened to innocent until proven guilty
Jun 25, 2007 at 4:09 pm
The Salvetti’s are good parents as will be seen when they have have their day in court.
Not Again!!!
Jun 25, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I love how bleeding hearts are always so quick to defend the abusive parents. If this boy was truly “troubled” they could have taken a different route to help him. Being Christian does not make them immune from being abusers. They locked this child in his room and made him a prisoner therefore violating his rights!!! He was malnourished which screams abuse no matter how you look at it. If they were really looking after his “best interest” they would have sought medical attention for this child. This sounds all to familiar - the story of Randall Piercy all over again! What is this world coming to???????
I'm with innocent
Jun 27, 2007 at 6:05 am
Not Again, it is people like you (a die-hard liberal) that have caused the name of Jesus, the great God Almighty to be ripped off Halls of Justice around the country! No wonder this country is not receiving the Lord’s blessings.
Once again I will advise you, you don’t know what you are talking about regarding this case, you are only going on what you have read in the media (as evidenced by the link within this article). Media entities (like this one) spreading this trash may be held liable when all is said and done. I would recommend waiting on the facts before airing these alleged “details”. - And I do use the word details loosely.
Kathy
Jun 27, 2007 at 6:18 am
I’m with innocent - Can you please explain him gaining 10 pounds after being in the hospital for 4 days?
Sitting in church every Sunday no more makes you a Christian than sitting in my driveway makes me a car.
Something wrong has happened here. The parents were charged and jailed, so a grand jury made up of their peers must have felt that the evidence presented by the DA was sufficient. What is slanderous about saying that? Its fact.
I'm with innocent
Jun 27, 2007 at 9:12 am
Kathy writes ..”I’m with innocent - Can you please explain him gaining 10 pounds after being in the hospital for 4 days?” - lies, lies, lies
Kathy writes..”…so a grand jury made up of their peers must have felt that the evidence presented by the DA was sufficient. What is slanderous about saying that?” - what grand jury?…. are you making this up as you go????? there has not been a grand jury! - look at the court records!!!
Kathy
Jun 27, 2007 at 9:37 am
IWI-
Okay, I got little confuesd on the grand jury thing…but obviously, these people were arrested and jailed after an investigation by CPS.
But again, who exactly is LYING about the weight gain? I find it hard that so many different media outlets would report the same information and ALL of them have it wrong. They obviously have a source. So who is lying? The hospital? The police? CPS? And what good would it be doing them? Only the facts can be presented in court.
And how exactly do you know all the inside facts of this case? Are you a relative, neighbor, friend of the family?
Shel
Jun 27, 2007 at 9:43 am
Court coming up on Friday! I’m interested to hear more on this case. The bond is set rather low (IMO) for charges of felony child abuse. I can tell you that 87 lbs is VERY underweight for a 13 year old…at least for the kids in my neighborhood. I don’t agree with locks on the outside of a child’s door at all…no matter his past with running away, that is called false imprisonment and is against the law. If your teenager runs away, then you need to go through the proper channels with the courts and law enforcement to deal with the behavior, “home prison” is not the answer at all.
I'm with innocent
Jun 27, 2007 at 9:49 am
The boy has been running his mouth all over town- self admitting about the weight - he thinks it is really funny how the media keeps “upping” the supposed weight gain.
I have attended church with the Salvetti’s for the past 2 years.
Kathy
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:06 am
Wow…the Salvetti’ definitely deserve their day in court, innocent or guilty. I am just surprised that his foster family/ guardians would allow him to talk to the media. Especially when there is a case pending. Someone should let the DA know this. Did they include the child in family outings and church activities?
Shel
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:15 am
IWI - That’s pretty low to make a dig at a 13 yr old child. Whether you feel he was right for turning in his parents or not. The police have arrested them and the child is in foster care. If it was a flat out lie, they would be home as a family going to counseling. Or maybe they would be home eating steaks and he would be locked in his room starving for being “bad”. It sickens me that you would talk about church and God and then make a snide comment about a 13 year old child who must have been telling some truths or his parents wouldn’t be in jail!
Shame on you!
I'm with innocent
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:33 am
excuse me. U shel and Kathy don’t even know the family personally so unless u actually have details besides what u have heard on the media because they twist stories around to make it more interesting then u do not even need to post any more comments. SO SHAME ON YOU!!!
Have Something to Say
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:35 am
Personally my family has been through charges from CPS, based soley on a statement from the child. The child lied because she was angry with the parents because she was being disciplined for bad behavior such as running around with her friends at the mall at the age of 14, shoplifting items she wanted, and lying about who she was with, so she could go and do whatever she thought was “COOL”. The final outcome of the case was that the chil d admitted she lied, because she was angry at the parents. This outcome was after $70,000.00 dollars in attorney fees and 9 months in foster care, because don’t YOU get it. The state receives money for the children they have in the system from the federal gov’t and the foster parents receive money from the state for the care of the “abused child”, there are a lot of children out there that are being abused that the state is turning their heads at, because their parents don’t have any money they can get from the parents!!!!!!
Kathy
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:41 am
IWI-
FIRST OF ALL, this is an opinions section. Don’t tell me what I can and can not post. I wasn’t attacking you.
Second, I asked a question on whether the child was included in any family outing s and church activities since you know them so well. Your refusal to answer the question makes me think the answer is NO. So did you know that these parents were keeping this child locked up and isolated? If you knew and stood by and did nothing shame on YOU.
Kathy
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:50 am
Have Something to say- My family was also involved some false allegations by an angry teen. They were cleared after a month and it cost NOTHING. I understand that this happens, don’t get me wrong, but please there are people in the child welfare system that actually care about the child. And most of the children that are in the system come from families that do NOT have money and live below the poverty level. The money that comes from the government, etc. largely comes from the taxpayers. One of my good friends is a foster parent. The money she gets for the children (she usually only takes one at a time) she takes into to her home barely cover the basic necesseties, especially if they are young enough to have to be enrolled in daycare. (I’ve seen the checks.) She doesn’t profit from being a foster mother. She does it to give a stable home environment and love and attention to a child that does not know what a normal life is like.
Though the system needs to be overhauled, please don’t discredit everyone involved. For every child you hear about in the media that has been failed by CPS, there are tons that are helped.
I'm with innocent 2
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:56 am
Well it’s not that i couldn’t answer the question but since u are misguided by the media u obviously beleive them. Second, it really isn’t any ones business as to whether he went to church events or not and u can still ASSUME that my answers no, go right ahead but like i said u have absolutely no idea whats going on in their family. And i didn’t say n anything- why u ask- BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE SAID! so really it’s still SHAME ON YOU..
I'm with innocent
Jun 27, 2007 at 10:59 am
and just to put out a fact: some children lie about being abused… don’t know y but they do. So exactly how do u know if they really abused him??
Kathy
Jun 27, 2007 at 11:13 am
If you could say for a fact that you saw him with his family at church, then you could say that he was NOT locked up in his room all day. That is why I asked. You becoming so defensive when people ask for proof just shows me that maybe there is SOME truth to these allegations. I don;t think you know as much as you claim to.
I'm with innocent 2
Jun 27, 2007 at 11:25 am
Well u don’t know me that well or even at all and like i said im not going to answer ur questions because it’s none of ur business and second like i said b4 u can ASSUME once again, but like i said u don’t know the truth all u know is what the media says except they only give one part of the story. And i do know what im talkn about i think its u who does not know what they are talkn about.
Kathy
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:13 pm
So you KNOW the truth, but you are just not gonna share it because its none of my business? Whatever. You can’t back up your claims. Just from going back and forth with you, I now believe more than ever that this poor boy was abused.
I'm with innocent 2
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Like i said idc u can beleive whatever the heck u want to. I’m not goin to stop u. but like someone said don’t beleive everything u hear.And like i said u don’t know them, and ur probably in no place to judge anyone but yourself. GOODBYE
no duh
Jun 27, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I’m with innocent: religion is the opiate of the masses. I’ll bet you don’t agree with that statement, but then again you are too high of Jesus to give anyone a clear cut arguement. And by the way, an 87 lbs teenaged boy and a lock on the outside of the door tell all of us sober people that something isn’t right.
Unbelievable!
Jul 12, 2007 at 10:45 am
It seems all of the “Christians” are defending their own. If you so strongly believe yourselves to be followers of “Christ”, ask yourself, are you supporting the right cause here? You seem to be blinded to the fact that a child, has been neglected. It doesnt matter that he may have lied, or cheated or stolen, these christians are focusing on the boy being a bad kid. That may be true, he could be HORRIBLE. That doesn’t justify him being abused, underweight, or locked up. If these parents have handled one child so poorly, how can the other children be unaffected?
I’m with innocent, why is it you are so afraid of giving the details that you obviously know? You cannot scream they are innocent and withold the truth. You look uneducated, and ignorant!
I am also a foster parent. I recieve NO money from the state. It is a diffucult job. It takes patience, responsibility and mostly, love. I Hope that these kids find the security, love, and peace that they deserve. Whomever they end up with.
lost in the desert
Jul 15, 2007 at 2:55 pm
A 13yr old child who weights 87 llbs? That fact, in and of itself, indicates if no out right abuse, then at the very least neglect. For those of you “Christians” who insist upon defending the parents need to read your Bible. Might I refer you to the verse which states (paraphrased) let one of you hurt my little ones, you would be better off if a millstone had been hung around your neck and cast in the sea.
No, I’m not a “good Christian” and hope never to be. I am a Jesus-freak. I follow the teachings of Jesus.
In Jesus Name
Jul 20, 2007 at 7:54 am
what about . . . . Spare the rod spoil the child (paraphrased)
Holy Ghost Filled
Jul 20, 2007 at 8:00 am
One of the Ten Commandments - Honor thy father and thy mother that all your days may be long and happy
lost in the desert
Jul 20, 2007 at 5:22 pm
In Jesus Name & Holy Ghost Filled,
God Bless you both. I would like to make a little point, if I may. HGF, yes, that is one of the ten commandments. Are you familiar with the New Testament? You know, the one that specifically states that we are to love one another. How is starving & locking up a child love in Jesus’ eyes? IJN, that particular passage is open to interpretation (as are many others). With Jesus’ gentle ways with the worst sinners, do you really think He is advocating beating children? IMO, I believe he means we must correct our children and guide them along the paths of righteousness (sp?). What do you think that passage means?
Lest you feel the need to chastise me for not following the Bible, please note I do not claim to be a “good Christian”. I am a Jesus freak.
Thank you for sharing your opinions.
May Jesus protect this child, since we mere mortals cannot.
in Jesus name
Jul 21, 2007 at 7:09 am
May God heal this child from the mental illness he experiencies due to his drunk biologIcal mother.
in Jesus name
Jul 21, 2007 at 7:26 am
in addition, in the new testiment, Jesus instructs us (his children) to be ‘doers’ of the Word lest we hate/denounce him (Jesus) as our Lord and Saviour. Of course we, mere mortals are not perfect, never the less we must strive to become Christ-like, as he desires us to be. Jesus also instructs us in the New Testiment to seperate our selves from this world and set ourselves apartas living sacrifices unto him which is our reasonable service to him. This includes not listening to media garble, which has been created by this filthy world.
lost in the desert
Jul 21, 2007 at 8:24 am
in Jesus name,I wholeheartedly agree. IMO, “doers of the Word” protect the innocent and vulnerable. That would of course include childrent.
skankyskeezer
Sep 2, 2007 at 1:01 pm
How does his fat cow of a mom get the nerve to starve anyone? Bitch needs to lock herself in a room for a few months without food.
skankyskeezer
Sep 2, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I’m with innocent, it’s been a few months since the insanity you’ve posted apparently. Hopefully, you’ve resumed your daily dose of anti-psychotic medication. Hope you’re better!
Kaleak
Oct 9, 2007 at 9:52 pm
It’s been awhile since anyone has posted to this. An exhusband of the cow, works with my husband, told us how to find this. This exhusband has taken custody of the daughter he had with the cow years ago. At least one of the children have been rescued!
Whether the boy was rotten or screwed up does not give those parents the right to abuse him. They’re more than likely the ones that screwed him up to begin with.
“Honor Thy Father and Mother”??? I don’t care what it says in the bible!!! Why honor parents that are not honorable!!! Anyone can go sit in a church and be a Sunday Christian(hypocrites).
To hell with lousy, abusive people that call themselves parents! WTF did they think starving him would accomplish??? Lazy, selfish, fatass c#*ts…and I’m talking about both parents!!!
dieter payne
Mar 13, 2008 at 10:10 am
What a great blog; too bad more people aren’t helping abused children. This happens to be an instance of the apple not falling from the tree. Daddy is a chip off the old block. Paul Sr. (grandfather; father of the punk pictured) left a real bad record behind him in Florida. He hung around an Alcoholics Anonymous clubhouse long enough to become treasurer of a large, daily meeting. People in recovery tend to be trusting; he abused this and stole thousands, nearly bankrupting the facility. His wife, the original “Ugly Betty,’ would deflect from him by routinely gossiping about others. Sr. once threw a chair at a wheelchair-bound veteran. After physically assaulting a woman, he later denied it, then acccused her of falsehoods in trying to cover himself by smearing her reputation. Ugly Betty joined in the fun. The list goes on and on. His last appearance at that AA club was his being chased off the property while clutching the groceries of a disabled veteran who had gone inside to use the facilities.
The woman in the above photo, while certainly no beauty, is Monroe-like in comparison to Betty Salvetti. Paul Senior would never attack one-on-one, unless his victim was female, or disabled. As is a trait with most child molesters, he would denigrate education (”we all know what a B.S. degree stands for” was a frequent quote of his). Yes we do, and the Chinese are using hundreds of thousands of those degrees to take over the world.
A final note: while run out of Florida, Paul and Betty didn’t leave all their debts behind them. A “group” of latinos has found their new address, and is planning on making it a summer timeshare, so to speak. God works in mysterious, and wonderful, ways!
Hopefully the young boy in your article will be removed from all of these low, negative people. Work like this blog exemplifies the good that can come from the internet.
Thank you, and please keep up the good work.
rockdoll_71
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I live very close to where all this has happened and I don’t really know why I am just now hearing about it but I do know one thing: this place is FULL of bible thumping idiots who ALWAYS try to drag God into everything. Most of the so called Christians here are NOT REALLY CHRISTIANS. They are hypocrites and that’s all.
I read some of the posts here and I know that anyone who could defend monsters who do something like this IS NOT A CHRISTIAN. How is it Christlike to starve your own child? Give me a flippin break!
I just hate it when people try to drag religion into everything. If you want to drag God into it, for cryin’ out loud, at least be on the side of right, the side of the victim.
truthcounts
Mar 26, 2008 at 3:41 pm
It is very disturbing that people would use a blog meant for good for their own personal vengenace. Namely Dieters Payne has done so. I personaly know the grandparents and Dieters Payne’s blog is full of lies. I don’t know much about Jr, but Sr and his wife are the most loving and generous people you could ever meet. God help you Dieters Payne!!!! And remember, HE IS ALWAYS WATCHING.
Ihavekidstoo
Mar 26, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Truthcounts, you’re right God always is watching. And I’ll bet he’s pretty pissed at all the bible-thumping nut-jobs who’ve posted here using His name to justify their small-minded, exclusionary mindset, not to mention the abuse of this child.
rockdoll_71
Mar 26, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Ihavekidstoo, WELL SAID.
loving_mom
Mar 26, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I could see locking him in his room to keep him in from running away but, starving? That is a bit extreme.
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