Dad who claims 2-year-old son shot, killed his mom loses custody; family doubts dad's story (Miami, Florida)

Dad TROY BAILEY SR's cover story has struck me as phony from the very beginning.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/04/24/2011-04-24_father_who_claims_2yearold_shot_killed_his_mother_loses_custody_of_child_as_fami.html#ixzz1KXQ5BpB7

Father who claims 2-year-old shot, killed his mother, loses custody of child as family doubts story
BY Meena Hartenstein
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, April 24th 2011, 9:57 PM

A Florida man who claims his two-year-old accidentally killed his mother is now barred from seeing the child.

A judge removed Troy Bailey Jr. from father Troy Bailey Sr.'s custody after the man claimed the toddler grabbed his gun on Wednesday and fatally shot his mother Julia Bennett, 33.

Police responded to the scene after Bailey Sr. called 911, where witnesses said they examined the child.

"They took him back there under the tree, then they swabbed his mouth and checked his hands for gun powder," neighbor Naomi Williams told WSVN-TV.

Bailey Sr. told police he mistakenly left his weapon out in reach of the little boy while visiting Bennett's home, but neighbors and family members don't believe his story.

"We're not buying it," Bennett's uncle Hugh Pearce told the Miami Herald. "We just don't think it happened that way... But we want to see police finish their investigation."

"He was little. Everybody was saying that he couldn't do it," neighbor Abel Hernandez told the TV station. "A kid can't pull the trigger."

"I'm not saying he didn't do it but if he did, he's a strong little boy," Williams said.

In a court hearing on Friday, Lisa Glick of Children's Legal Services argued the child should be removed from Bailey Sr.'s care because "BSO [Broward Sheriff's Office] has been unable to reach the father at this time and does not currently know where he his," and "in light of…the very concerning allegations through the petition regarding their child being present in the home at which time a loaded firearm was fired and subsequently killed the mother."

Meanwhile, those close to the child say Bailey Jr. does not seem to fully understand that his mother has died.

"He asks about his mom," Bennett's sister Angela Thompson told WSVN.

"He just keeps calling her name, saying, 'Mom, mom,'" added relative Marva Anglin.

"I'm not an expert as to what, and I can't speculate as to what he may be going through, psychologically speaking, but at least it appears that he is not aware of exactly what it was that happened," said Miramar Police spokesperson Tania Rues.

Bailey Sr. is reportedly married to another woman and sources told WSVN he has been accused of pulling a gun on Bennett in the past.

The toddler is now in the care of his relatives, and his father is not allowed to contact him unless he requests permission from the state.

Police are still investigating the incident.