Toddler dies, custodial dad faces murder charge (Tampa, Florida)

Lo and behold. Florida DCF has admitted "mistakes" in the way this case was handled. Those must be pigs flying outside my window, too.

This is more than just a few errors. Read carefully. Dad DWAYNE POOLE is 23. When this baby was born, he must have been around around 21. Mom lost custody after her own mother died and she was placed in foster care. Which obviously means that mom was a MINOR, given that she turned 18 only recently. So this guy is not a "father" per se. He's a recreational sperm donor who--at best--manipulated a young girl into having sex with him. At worst, he's an out and out rapist, statuatory or otherwise. The fact that Daddy has a violent criminal record, including a conviction for misdemeanor battery, suggest to me that overall, this guy was NOT Citizen of the Year.

But given the State of Florida's total capitulation to fathers rights, Daddy gets custody of the kid anyway--and to hell with the fact that mother is already grieving over the loss of her own mother. Apparently they just couldn't be bothered to offer this young mom ANY SUPPORT at all. It doesn't take much brains to figure out what happened next. COMPLETELY INEXCUSABLE. AND PREVENTABLE.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/06/PMENEWSO13-toddler-dies-father-faces-murder-charge/

Toddler dies, father faces murder charge
From staff reports

Published: February 6, 2011

TAMPA - A 16-month-old boy who had been on life support for four days died Saturday, and now his father faces a first-degree murder charge.

Ronderique Anderson was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.

"Ronderique's mother, Fredreda Scott, made the decision to donate her son's organs, saying that even as she grieves over the loss of her baby that she hopes another child may be able to live and prosper the way Ronderique would have," the family said in a statement issued through their attorney, Eric Seidel.

The boy's father, Dwayne Poole, was arrested Tuesday night on an aggravated child abuse charge and is being held without bail. Police added the murder charge on Saturday.

Investigators said Poole, 23, threw his son on a bed as punishment for playing near an electrical socket; Ronderique's head hit a dresser or wall.

Scott, 18, doesn't live with Poole and didn't have custody of their son. She previously said that Ronderique was removed from her care when she was placed in foster care after her mother died.

Officials with the Florida Department of Children & Families said they are reviewing the case but have admitted mistakes were made in placing Ronderique with his father.

Poole was convicted of misdemeanor battery and sentenced to 14 days in jail following a November 2005 fight, records show. He was 18 when he fought in a hallway at Bloomingdale High School, deputies said.

A DCF spokeswoman said Ronderique had been placed in his mother's care, but then removed, several times before the agency determined that Scott wasn't an appropriate caregiver.

Although Poole was given custody, Scott retained her parental rights.

After Ronderique was placed with his father, case managers went to Poole's home to check on the child's welfare, according to DCF. There were no prior reported problems with Poole's care, and no history of violence involving Poole or Scott and their son.