Police Say Girl Was Given Just One Pop-Tart a Week and Raped for Years. Then She Opened Up to a School Counselor

An Arkansas couple is accused of repeatedly abusing a girl, who claimed she survived on one Pop-Tart a week, authorities have said.

Daniel Caler, 31, and Annie Caler, 29, were arrested by the Benton Police Department on May 9 after the girl opened up about the alleged abuse to a school counselor, who then got police involved, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local stations 5News, KHBS and KNWA Fox 24.

The girl claimed Daniel raped her for three years beginning in August 2020, per the affidavit cited by 5News. After one of the instances, authorities allege she heard Daniel telling Annie that she would “kill her” if the girl told anyone.

“This statement made by Daniel scared [the victim] and this is why she never told anyone what was happening to her until now,” the affidavit states, per 5News.

The girl, whose age has not been publicly reported, also allegedly described being beaten by the couple and forced to take drugs. She recalled one time when Annie allegedly stabbed her in the neck for not doing the “dishes correctly,” 5News reported, citing the affidavit.

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The affidavit states that the girl also claimed that she was only given one Pop-Tart and one glass of water a week and was forced to sleep in the bathtub without a blanket or pillow, per KNWA Fox 24.

According to KHBS, the girl told police she never told anyone about the alleged abuse out of fear, and that she felt like the abuse was her fault, authorities said in the affidavit. The relationship between the couple and the girl is unclear.

Daniel has been charged with rape, sexual assault, permitting child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, online booking records show. Annie has also been charged with permitting child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, but faces additional charges of battery, terroristic threats and introduction of a controlled substance into another body, according to the records.

It’s unclear if they have entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on their behalf.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.