Custodial dad accused of neglect in death of 8-year-old daughter (Guadalupe County, Texas)

Usually in cases of child neglect deaths, the mother is blamed even if two parents live in the home. It's assumed--and often correctly--that mothers are in fact in charge of making sure the children are fed and clothed properly, taken to the doctor when needed, etc. The fact that dad DAVID BRASSE is accused in this case--and that there's no mention of a mom--made me suspect this is a single dad.

So I did a little digging. Sure enough. Daddy and his "fiancee"--who is continually misidentified in a lot of media accounts as the mother-- had custody. And the dead girl's real mom had been fighting to get custody back too, knowing that her daughter was being abused in the father's home. But unable to convince the courts of the same.

From the Dreamin' Demon blog, February 12, 2009:

http://www.dreamindemon.com/2009/02/12/sarah-brasse-was-sick-and-ignored/

"Sarah’s biological mother, Jo-Anne Brasse, claims that she has been fighting for custody of Sarah and her two brothers since 2007. She also claims ‘there were ongoing signs of mental abuse and neglect inside the home for months.’ She repeatedly tried to have the children removed from their father’s home, but was denied in court due to lack of evidence."

And that's the real context of this story here. Which of course is not being illuminated by the mainstream media at all. Once again, the role of CPS and the courts in supporting and enabling the abuse and neglect of children at the hands of custodial fathers.

http://www.kens5.com/home/Father-accused--104023194.html

Father accused of neglect in death of daughter
by James Muñoz / KENS 5

Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:22 PM

SAN ANTONIO -- A Guadalupe County man indicted on charges of injury to a child stood in court Wednesday.

David Brasse denies the allegations.

His 8-year-old daughter ,Sarah, had an infected appendix. Sarah had been sick for days, and was even sent home from school. Last February, Sarah was found dead in her bed at the family home in Schertz. Authorities say Brasse neglected to give his daughter the necessary medical care.

Child Protective Services had investigated the family just two years prior to Sarah's death.

If convicted, Brasse faces five to 99 years in prison. No trial date has been set.