Parents of girl who was starved plead not guilty to mistreatment charges

The father and stepmother of a 14-year-old Carnation girl who authorities said was deprived of food and water each pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal mistreatment this morning in King County Superior Court.

Jon Pomeroy and his wife, Rebecca Long, were charged earlier this month, nearly two months after authorities went to their home and found the 14-year-old girl weighed just 48 pounds.

She suffered dehydration so severe that all of her teeth were rotting, court documents state. It was the worst case of abuse the veteran King County detective assigned to the case had ever seen.

Court documents say Long was systematically depriving her stepdaughter of sustenance. Investigators say the girl told them that Long permitted her half a Dixie cup of water a day and supervised the girl's showers and toothbrushing so she could not sneak a drink.

Once, the girl said she was caught drinking from the toilet, her thirst was so bad.

The girl told a detective that her father was "aware of the water restrictions but chooses not to interfere," according to court documents.

The couple, who held hands tightly throughout this morning's hearing, were ordered by Superior Court Judge Cheryl Carey to avoid contact with the girl and their son. They declined to comment after the hearing.

The next court hearing on the charges is scheduled for Nov. 18.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.