Custodial father allegedly shot by 10-year-old son (Belen, New Mexico)

Custodial dad BENJAMIN HILBURN was reported to Child, Youth, and Family Services at least 7 times, but apparently they found no "evidence of abuse" (big surprise--they never seem to see anything even if it's in front of their proverbial nose). So there's lots of smoke here. Now we have the 10-year-old son in custody for shooting the father to death. Two things to ponder here: 1) the vast majority of cases where children kill a parent are related to severe child abuse (a minority of cases have to do with mental illness or some other psychopathology); and 2) Abusive fathers are highly over-represented among single-parent households--research shows that abusive fathers are far more likely to pursue custody than normal, non-abusive fathers. In addition, according to the Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, "Among children in single-parent households, those living with only their fathers were approximately one and two-thirds times more likely to be physically abused than those living with only their mothers."

Silverside's Prediction: This case is going to be a virtual repeat of the November 2008 case of the 8-year-old San Carlos, Arizona boy who shot and killed his "sole custody" father VINCENT ROMERO and the father's "roommate." After much hoo-haw about prosecuting the boy, all charges were dropped once a mysterious psychological study was completed and sealed. Remember how the kid said he wouldn't take it any more after the "1,000th smack"? I'm sure the report found that "smacking" was just the tip of the iceberg.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_belen_boy_suspect_in_shooting_200908281244


CYFD checked father said killed by son
Updated: Friday, 28 Aug 2009, 10:25 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 28 Aug 2009, 12:47 PM MDT

Reporter: Maria Medina
Web Producer: Bill Diven

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - At least seven times over the last several years investigators from the Children, Youth and Families Department checked out a Belen father whom police say was shot to death Thursday by his 10-year-old son.

Police have charged Benjamin Hilburn with first-degree murder after Byron Hilburn, 42, was found shot to death Thursday evening in the family's Belen home.

The elder Hilburn was shot in the back of the head, according to police.

Police say evidence leads them to believe the man's 10-year-old son was the shooter.

The boy is in the custody of the CYFD. Police said they hope to interview him by Monday.

A 6-year-old was also in the room at the time of the shooting. The child is one of Benjamin's younger siblings. It is not known at this time what she witnessed.

Police said they are looking into CYFD records because they found paperwork in the home. Also they heard that there were CYFD referrals about the single-parent family.

CYFD later reported its investigators checked out the father at least seven times in the last several years. However CYFD said they never found evidence of abuse but is continuing its investigation.

If the first-degree murder charge stands, the boy would be tried in Children's Court.

The penalties could range from one-year probation to incarceration in a juvenile facility until he's 21.