Authorities expressed shock Friday about the abuse of a 13-year-old developmentally disabled boy who was hog-tied to a tree and hit with balls, fists and spraying water while family members and friends videotaped the actions.

In a court affidavit, Detective Diane Young said the victim told her that Richter and Cy Zezza tied him to a tree in the front yard on Brookline in east Bartlesville and struck him with tennis balls and a basketball they threw at him.

The boy had a rope burn on his left shoulder and three rope burns on his abdomen when he was interviewed by child welfare authorities, they said.

The videotape, seized by police, shows the victim crying in pain and tied with rope at his hands and feet. At one point, his attackers picked up the screaming boy by his hands and feet.

Several times the boy was sprayed in the face with a water gun. The video also shows Cy Zezza punching the victim, according to a court affidavit.

Police said Richter told them that he tied the victim to a tree but said his hands were free and that they were playing catch with him, the court affidavit stated. Richter later told police he was punishing the boy "for cussing in his house," according to the affidavit.

[Police Lt. Steve] Johnson said he is not aware of any calls coming into the police Detective Division about the abuse case, despite the fact that the video shows cars and a bicycle passing by the house while the boy lay screaming in the front yard.

(see article, though i've posted most of it)(by the by, emphasis mine)

that the mother allowed her friends to do this while she and others watched doesn't suprise me. i've long ago accepted that some people are monsters who do this type of thing, but, motorists and bicyclists passed by. neighbors must have heard the screaming. someone had to have seen this happening, yet no one called the police. they looked away and let the monsters go about their work. i hate people.