The boy began to be punished almost immediately

Christian was made to live inside a used metal dog cage. He allegedly was repeatedly struck and kicked by both his father and stepmother. When Christian tried to escape from the dog cage, his father reportedly secured it with seven locks. The keys were kept near the father's computer, where he was said to enjoy playing video games about racing while his son struggled in the cage.

Sometimes Christian's hands were chained to the top of the cage; during one such occasion, according to the affidavit, he was crying, so his stepmother, as additional punishment, spray-painted his chained hands black. His health had started to deteriorate, and he had begun to soil himself, so he was kept naked except for a diaper. The only baths he was permitted were with ice-cold water, which made him scream.

"He needs to be locked up. He's a dog."

In April of 2009, according to the affidavit, after Christian was too ill to eat, his father "punched him with full force several times in the front, side and back of his head before throwing him back in the cage."

How could a boy live and die, his cries unheard, and have no one be aware of it? How could he be dead for two years and have no one looking for him?

It was the biological mother who, this spring, told police she suspected something bad had happened to Christian.

Some of it was purchased and destroyed in a bonfire attended by 300 people, including some family members of Gacy's victims.

Myles said the proceeds would be divided evenly among the charities. If the crime victims group doesn't want the money, Myles said he would find another organization to donate the proceeds.

"I think anyone would be pretty creeped out by it,"

"Her attack is a case of corrective rape," said gay rights activist Lydia Kunu. "Neighbors said they heard her attackers telling her, 'We will take the lesbian out of you. ' They were mocking her and asking her why she acts like a man."

The death has sparked renewed calls for action as rights groups warn of escalated homophobic attacks.

Mthathi said it is hard to get an overall number of the people subjected to violence because attacks go unreported over the distrust for the judicial system.

The use of the term "corrective rape" started three years ago after the rape and murder of Eudy Simelane, a well-known soccer player who lived openly as a lesbian.

"It is our responsibility to provide safety, and we take that job seriously,"

The new task force is scheduled to start working in July. It will address issues such as whether police and social workers should undergo sensitivity training, and whether rapists who target sexual minorities should get harsher sentences.

Police had not ruled out murder or whether other people had helped Kim to kill himself, AFP said.

"In addition to the violence, the fact is that it happened in a court proceeding."

"He goes, 'I'm not going to pay child support,' and Judge Rothschild says, 'You know all parents have to pay child support, we all have to support our children,' and he (Gonzalez) stalked out of the room," said Dunleavy. "He went calmly," remembered Judge Rothschild, "not happily, but calmly walked out of chambers, took one step out of the door, then in a blink of an eye -- I mean literally one step -- he came back in." Upon returning, Gonzalez suddenly started punching his estranged wife, according to those in the chambers.

A bailiff was not in the room at the time. The judge said if he had had any indication that Gonzalez was violent, he would have had security in his chambers.

Violence is not OK any where but it is certainly not OK in the court of law in the United States of America."

Gilbert's sisters said Shannan was an escort who was visiting a client. They said she ran from the man's house and called 911, claiming that someone was trying to hurt her.

Sherre Gilbert said even if her sister is never found, the search has led to one positive outcome: the discovery of the other women's bodies.

"Lady, you're letting them fight like this? What kind of example are you, lady?" the man asks. "I don't care," the woman replies.

Among other issues, he said that the girl didn't do enough to stop the alleged assailants.

"I'm hurting for him right now," Baker said. "I'm just surprised he had to be the one in the crossfire."

Police later found writings in the house, thought to be from Schenecker, in which she spelled out her intentions in detail

A responding officer, Julie Becker, wrote that she didn't see any "visible injuries" on Calyx, nor did the girl complain of any. "She seemed cautious of what was saying, and at times began to cry,"

He began his sentence as a teenager in juvenile facilities but was transferred to a regular prison at age 18,