Custodial dad on trial for murder of 10-year-old son; surviving sons testify (South Bend, Indiana)

CPS people must be collective idiots. How can you do a crime investigation when you interview the alleged victim in front of the alleged perpetrator? Especially when the alleged victim is totally dependent on the alleged perpetrator as a parent? Custodial dad TERRY STURGIS was treated with kid gloves, in a blatantly obtuse, incompetent fashion, from the very moment he obtained custody. It's as if the system didn't want to do anything that would endanger Daddy's custody, so they just went through the motions with a wink and a nudge. The Indiana media has never made it clear how this father got custody and who gave it to him. But then it is also a state with a very strong and aggressive fathers rights presence.

http://articles.wsbt.com/2012-05-18/younger-brothers_31769519



Terry Sturgis trial: 'She told him to stop or he would kill one of them'


Three children, including Terry Sturgis' oldest and youngest sons testified against their father in court Friday.

May 18, 2012|By Kelli Stopczynski

SOUTH BEND – Terry Sturgis’ 14-year-old son took the stand Friday during day four of Sturgis’ murder trial. The boy recounted horrific details from the night his 10-year-old brother, Tramelle, died. The nature of the details he gave during his two hour testimony were so graphic, we’ve chosen not to report most of them.

The 14-year-old told jurors the abuse to he and his two younger brothers began when they moved into their Washington Street home in 2008.

He also testified that the Department of Child Services came to his home twice. Once, he said Tramelle told the school nurse about abuse to his older brother, but the 14-year-old told jurors his father made him lie about what happened. In court, he said after the case worker left, “Tramelle got beat.”

Another time DCS visited, he said he lied out of fear.

“Before they came my dad told me, 'Don't say nothing about what's happening or you're gonna get taken away.' In my mind I'm thinking if we get taken away it's going to be bad," the 14-year-old said from the witness stand. "[DCS thought they could] say every question out loud and expect me to tell the truth in front of [my dad]…so instead I lied and said I'm happy."