Dad admits plan to kill child, himself in day-care center case (Gardena, California)

Dad LATRON MCDOWELL has admitted that he intended to abduct his 10-month-old son at knifepoint from his daycare center, and then murder him. All because "he didn't want another father figure to raise his son." All so his ex-girlfriend couldn't have "his family." This is exactly the kind of volatile nutcase that the fathers rights people have been lionizing for years. We're just lucky this one was caught before another child ended up dead.

Notice that this working mom was still relying on this unemployed/underemployed @$$wipe for child care, though. Even though they had "broken up." So Daddy was still "involved"--which is what we're told these guys want. But not really--these types aren't really interested in involvement per se. What they crave is total dictatorial control and annihilation.

Of course, Daddy is still blaming Mom for his actions. Why would we expect otherwise? These criminal daddies and their allies never take responsibility for their own actions.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15507242

Father admits plan to kill child, himself in day-care center case
By Denise Nix Staff Writer
Posted: 07/13/2010 06:32:16 PM PDT

A father who tried to take his 10-month-old son from a Gardena day-care center admitted to police that he intended to kill the child and himself, a detective said in court Tuesday.

Latron McDowell told detectives Daniel Guzzo and Brian Messina he was going to commit the murder-suicide because "he didn't want another father figure to raise his son," Guzzo testified during a preliminary hearing.

At the end of the hearing, Torrance Superior Court Judge Hector Guzman determined there was enough evidence to hold the 20-year-old Los Angeles man for trial on eight counts.

The charges include attempted murder, attempted residential burglary, making criminal threats, assault with means likely to produce great bodily injury and auto theft.

McDowell remains held on $1 million bail and will return to court July 27.

The April 29 incident at the day-care facility in the 13400 block of Wilton Place followed a morning of fighting between McDowell and his girlfriend, Ravonne Mandac.

Mandac testified that she broke up with McDowell, her boyfriend of four years, the weekend before.

Per their arrangement, he came to her home around 5 a.m. that day to stay with their son, Rylin, and then take him to day care.

Mandac said McDowell took her cell phone outside and threw it to the ground, shattering it.

It appears from the testimony of several witnesses that McDowell accused Mandac of cheating on him, and found alleged evidence of such in text messages contained on her phone.

She said she let him back in to get his things, and he took money meant to pay for day care and her purse. She said she called 911.

He left - but before he did, she hid his cell phone, Mandac said.

Later, he called and told her to meet him at an Inglewood intersection and he would return her purse.

She said he met her and told her she couldn't "have his family" and to "make your own," she said. Then he asked about Rylin's whereabouts, she added.

When she told him the boy was at day care, he told her: "You better get your son before I do," she said. He then sped off in a Mitsubishi Eclipse, she added.

Mandac said she called the day-care provider while her friend called 911.

Officer Brian Park said he was responding to the day-care center when he saw McDowell running, and arrested him.

McDowell directed Park to a steak knife in his waistband, and the officer testified that he also recovered a handwritten note in McDowell's pocket.

Park said he asked McDowell what he planned to do with the knife, and he responded: "I was gonna do something stupid with it."

At the police station, Guzzo testified, McDowell told detectives about the text messages, and said he took the bus to Hollywood after throwing the phone.

He said he bought liquor, drank it, then took the bus back to Mandac's home, where he wrote the note. He also admitted stealing the car.

Guzzo testified McDowell told them he was going to "take his son's life and his life," and that he hoped the police would "find them dead."

Guzzo read part of the note, titled "Final Words," in court. In it, McDowell said he killed his son and himself so that he "will not live another day to see him parade around with his ho-ass tripping mother."

McDowell apologized to his family and told them to blame Mandac.

McDowell's attorney, Anthony Willoughby, argued to Guzman that most of the counts should be dismissed - especially the attempted murder since there was no evidence he took "action to engage in murderous conduct."

Deputy District Attorney Christi Frey said all his actions - trying to force his way into the day-care center, his admissions to the officers, the knife and his note - proved his intent.