Girl 'held in confined space' for years

An eight-year-old American girl who was found locked in a wardrobe and severely malnourished, was kept in a confined space for four years, a prosecutor testified during her custody hearing yesterday.

Dallas Assistant District Attorney Michael Munden said Lauren Calhoun was kept in a ‘‘closet, attic or small room’’ since 1997.

And he said Lauren’s five brothers and sisters were told to lie about her existence.

Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon held the hearing to gather information on who should get custody of Lauren and her siblings.

The judge did not indicate today when she would hand down her ruling.

Lauren was locked in a wardrobe and weighed only 25lb when she was rescued earlier this month from her home in Hutchins, south of Dallas.

Lauren is currently at the Children’s Medical Centre in Dallas.

Her mother, Barbara Atkinson, and stepfather, Kenneth Ray Atkinson, were arrested on charges of injury to a child, and both remain at the Dallas County Jail.

Authorities said Lauren was imprisoned in a urine- and faeces-contaminated closet in the Atkinson home.

Police also are investigating evidence that the girl was sexually abused.

Bill and Sabrina Kavanaugh, who tried to adopt Lauren when she was born, are attempting to seek custody of her.

They had lost custody when Ms Atkinson changed her mind and wanted the baby back.