Tipton County Sheriff’s Office
Press Release
31 January 2014
** For Immediate release **
Re: Arrests in Child Imprisonment Investigation
On 27 January 2014 at about 11:00 AM Tipton County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a call regarding the possible imprisonment of three children at 283 Gladney Road in Covington.
The complainant and one of three victims reported she and her sister, 12 years-of-age were locked in their bedroom upon arriving home from school. There was a bariatric commode placed in the room and the windows were screwed shut. The girls were fed in their rooms and confined until there were allowed to go to school in the mornings.
The 14 year-old brother was housed in an un-insulated storage shed in the backyard. The shed had no electricity or running water. A bariatric commode was placed in his living space along with a small space heater. There were exposed wiring throughout the shed. The lighting in the living space was a mechanics work lamp on an electrical cord. The boy would be allowed to come inside the residence in the mornings for breakfast before going to school and returned to the shed after school. The investigation revealed that the 14 year-old boy was deemed seriously emotional disturbed. The investigation revealed the conditions have lasted approximately six months for disciplinary action for the children.
Detectives and personnel with the Department of Children of Services responded to the residence and identified as the custodial adoptive parent as Will Earnest Cater, 53, and his wife Wylie Sue Cater, 43 of the Gladney Road residence. Detectives confirmed the conditions at the residence with visible locks and conditions described by the complainant. Detectives observed two fully functioning bathrooms inside the residence. The children were removed from the custody of the Cater’s and placed in foster care by DCS.
The children are receiving services and medical evaluations. The monies being received by the Cater’s as guardians of the children have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and evaluation of future custody of the children.
On 28 January 2014 at about 12:00 PM Will and Wylie Cater were arrested during a traffic stop in Covington. Detectives interviewed the couple who admitted to their roles in the confinement and treatment to the children. Detectives have formally charged the couple with False Imprisonment and 3 counts of Aggravated Child Abuse. The couple remains in custody pending their arraignment in Tipton County General Sessions Court.
“This investigation is disturbing in the manner which these children where allegeable being held. We are making certain that these children are receiving all the needed services. I commend the detectives, deputies and DCS personnel who have worked diligently as a team to conduct this investigation.”
If anyone has information in this case, please call the Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-3300, Central Dispatch after hours at 901-475-4300, phone in tips at 901-475-3307, email tips to or Facebook “Sheriff J.T. “Pancho” Chumley”.”
Sheriff J.T. ‘Pancho’ Chumley
For additional information or questions please contact:
Public Information Officer, Chief Donna Turner
; (901) 475-3300, (901) 258-0993