The dad is identified as ANTHONY HERNANDEZ. Notice that there is no mention of the girl's mother anywhere. Single dad? Custodial/visitation situation?
http://www.kpho.com/story/27730883/phoenix-dad-suspected-of-beating-child-with-hanger
Phoenix dad suspected of beating child with hanger
Posted: Dec 30, 2014 2:39 PM EST
Updated: Dec 30, 2014 2:48 PM EST
By Steve Stout
PHOENIX (CBS5) -
A 28-year-old Phoenix father is accused of using a coat hanger to discipline his 4-year-old daughter.
Anthony Hernandez was arrested just before noon Monday and charged with three counts of felony child abuse after police said Hernandez admitted using the hanger as a tool of discipline.
The girl's grandmother originally found marks and bruises on the girls' body that appeared to have been made by a hanger, according to a Phoenix police officer's probable cause statement.
Additional cuts and bruises were evident in pictures supplied to police by the grandmother, according to the statement.
The girl told her grandmother her father had inflicted the injuries and later told police that her older sister had seen the beating, according to the statement.
Hernandez was arrested in Scottsdale and taken to the Phoenix Police Department, where he was questioned and booked into jail.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Suit: DCFS contractor negligent before dad set two kids on fire (Cook County, Illinois)
Another case where the dad's rights trumped the rights of everybody else.
Dad is identified as NATHANIEL BELER.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/7/71/245088/suit-dcfs-contractor-negligent-father-set-two-children-fire
Suit: DCFS contractor negligent before father set two children on fire
Posted: 12/29/2014, 08:07pm | Sam Charles
The county-appointed public guardian of a boy and girl who were set on fire by their father in late 2012 is suing a DCFS-contracted welfare agency, alleging its negligence led to the death of one child and the severe, ongoing injuries of the other.
Robert F. Harris, the appointed estate administrator of Nariyah Beler and the public guardian of her brother Naciere, filed the lawsuit Monday in Cook County Circuit Court against the Humboldt Park-based welfare agency Association House.
On Dec. 28, 2012, Nathaniel Beler set his two children, their mother and himself on fire at his mother’s West Side home, the suit stated. His daughter, 4-year-old Nariyah, and her mother, Taniya Johnson, died. His son Naciere, then 9, suffered burns to more than 40 percent of his body.
Beler’s death was ruled a suicide by self-immolation, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
In the months that led up to the fatal arson, Harris alleges, Association House and several of its employees breached duties that could have prevented Nariyah’s death and Naciere’s injuries.
DCFS recommended that Beler – a diagnosed schizophrenic and PCP addict with a history of going off his medication – should see his two children only in the company of a caseworker and in a “neutral” public place, the suit stated.
Under pressure from Beler, the assigned Association House caseworker allowed him to see his children at his mother’s house, the eventual scene of the fatal fire, the suit stated.
“Association House ignored or downplayed the severe danger that Mr. Beler posed,” the suit claims.
During an argument with Johnson in September 2012, Beler threatened to kill himself and his two children by pouring gasoline on them and lighting a match, the suit stated. Beler showed her two cans of gasoline, but she persuaded him to let her leave the home and go to work.
Once Johnson – who left her two children alone with Beler – got to work, her co-workers told her to call the police, leading to a standoff that eventually resulted in the safe release of both children and Beler’s involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital, the suit stated. There was enough gasoline in the home’s bathtub “to level the building.”
Association House knew Beler had a history of violent, erractic behavior when he was off his medication and no one from the agency ever tried to determine if he still was taking his prescriptions, the suit claims.
The agency also took Beler at his word when he said he was no longer using PCP and did not ever screen his urine to confirm he wasn’t using drugs, the suit alleges.
A representative from Association House could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
The six-count wrongful death and negligence suit seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
Dad is identified as NATHANIEL BELER.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/7/71/245088/suit-dcfs-contractor-negligent-father-set-two-children-fire
Suit: DCFS contractor negligent before father set two children on fire
Posted: 12/29/2014, 08:07pm | Sam Charles
The county-appointed public guardian of a boy and girl who were set on fire by their father in late 2012 is suing a DCFS-contracted welfare agency, alleging its negligence led to the death of one child and the severe, ongoing injuries of the other.
Robert F. Harris, the appointed estate administrator of Nariyah Beler and the public guardian of her brother Naciere, filed the lawsuit Monday in Cook County Circuit Court against the Humboldt Park-based welfare agency Association House.
On Dec. 28, 2012, Nathaniel Beler set his two children, their mother and himself on fire at his mother’s West Side home, the suit stated. His daughter, 4-year-old Nariyah, and her mother, Taniya Johnson, died. His son Naciere, then 9, suffered burns to more than 40 percent of his body.
Beler’s death was ruled a suicide by self-immolation, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
In the months that led up to the fatal arson, Harris alleges, Association House and several of its employees breached duties that could have prevented Nariyah’s death and Naciere’s injuries.
DCFS recommended that Beler – a diagnosed schizophrenic and PCP addict with a history of going off his medication – should see his two children only in the company of a caseworker and in a “neutral” public place, the suit stated.
Under pressure from Beler, the assigned Association House caseworker allowed him to see his children at his mother’s house, the eventual scene of the fatal fire, the suit stated.
“Association House ignored or downplayed the severe danger that Mr. Beler posed,” the suit claims.
During an argument with Johnson in September 2012, Beler threatened to kill himself and his two children by pouring gasoline on them and lighting a match, the suit stated. Beler showed her two cans of gasoline, but she persuaded him to let her leave the home and go to work.
Once Johnson – who left her two children alone with Beler – got to work, her co-workers told her to call the police, leading to a standoff that eventually resulted in the safe release of both children and Beler’s involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital, the suit stated. There was enough gasoline in the home’s bathtub “to level the building.”
Association House knew Beler had a history of violent, erractic behavior when he was off his medication and no one from the agency ever tried to determine if he still was taking his prescriptions, the suit claims.
The agency also took Beler at his word when he said he was no longer using PCP and did not ever screen his urine to confirm he wasn’t using drugs, the suit alleges.
A representative from Association House could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
The six-count wrongful death and negligence suit seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
Dad charged with murder in death of infant son (Suffolk, Virginia)
Dad is identified as ARTHUR LEE SMITH JR.
http://wavy.com/2014/12/29/man-charged-with-second-degree-murder-in-death-of-baby/
Father charged with murder in baby death investigation
By WAVY News
Published: December 29, 2014, 2:59 pm | Updated: December 30, 2014, 12:07 pm
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Suffolk police confirm they have charged a father wanted in Norfolk for the death of his infant child.
Arthur Lee Smith Jr., 25, was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree murder, according to the Norfolk Police Department.
The charges stem from an incident last Tuesday when officers responded to a home in the 6200 block of Bewells Point Road for a report of an unresponsive infant. The child was taken to the Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters where he was later pronounced dead.
The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Norfolk Police Homicide Division, which has identified Smith as the baby’s father. Norfolk police said they aren’t sure right now if Smith is a resident of Norfolk or Suffolk.
Smith Jr. was arraigned Tuesday morning in Norfolk. He has a review court date scheduled Jan. 12.
Stay with WAVY 10 for more on this developing story.
http://wavy.com/2014/12/29/man-charged-with-second-degree-murder-in-death-of-baby/
Father charged with murder in baby death investigation
By WAVY News
Published: December 29, 2014, 2:59 pm | Updated: December 30, 2014, 12:07 pm
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Suffolk police confirm they have charged a father wanted in Norfolk for the death of his infant child.
Arthur Lee Smith Jr., 25, was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree murder, according to the Norfolk Police Department.
The charges stem from an incident last Tuesday when officers responded to a home in the 6200 block of Bewells Point Road for a report of an unresponsive infant. The child was taken to the Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters where he was later pronounced dead.
The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Norfolk Police Homicide Division, which has identified Smith as the baby’s father. Norfolk police said they aren’t sure right now if Smith is a resident of Norfolk or Suffolk.
Smith Jr. was arraigned Tuesday morning in Norfolk. He has a review court date scheduled Jan. 12.
Stay with WAVY 10 for more on this developing story.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Dad's assault charges to be upgraded after 4-month-old son dies (Queens, New York)
Dad is identified as JAGSHEER SINGH.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/charges-dad-baby-death-boosted-article-1.2056874
Queens man arrested for assaulting infant son will face upgraded charge after baby dies
Nevin Janduher died of severe head injuries he suffered while in care of his father, Jagsheer Singh.
BY Oren Yaniv / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS / Published: Thursday, December 25, 2014, 10:59 PM Updated: Friday, December 26, 2014, 2:18 AM
Father of infant will face upgraded criminal charges in beating death of son.
A Queens father who was arrested last weekend for allegedly assaulting his 4-month-old son will soon face an upgraded criminal charge after the child died hours before Christmas.
Nevin Janduher died of severe head injuries Wednesday afternoon at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, a facility that shares a campus in New Hyde Park with Long Island Jewish Medical Center, where the boy’s mother works as a radiologist. The NYPD announced the child’s death Thursday.
The boy suffered the injuries last Friday while in the care of his father, Jagsheer Singh, 28, police said. Singh’s wife, Dr. Reena Malhotra, was at work that day. She returned to the couple’s Bayside home early Saturday and went to sleep without checking on the baby, prosecutors said. Nevin appeared to be fine at 7 a.m. Saturday, when Singh made him a bottle, according to statements he allegedly made, prosecutors said. The father then gave the boy a bath, and during that process the boy fell off a changing table that was about 4 feet off the floor, Singh said. Singh did not tell his wife about the fall, prosecutors said.
At 8 a.m., Singh noticed the child was unresponsive, and he then awakened his wife and called 911, according to his statement.
But doctors determined the baby “suffered multiple severe skull fractures, widespread brain injury resulting from lack of oxygen and retinal hemorrhages,” prosecutors have said. They argued the trauma was inconsistent with a fall.
Singh was arraigned Monday on charges of first-degree assault and child endangerment. He was jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail. In a news release Monday, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown vowed charges would be upgraded against Singh if Nevin died. On Thursday night, a spokeswoman from Brown’s office said upgraded charges would await results of an autopsy performed by the medical examiner. Singh is due in court Jan. 5.
Nevin’s fate appears to mirror the deaths this fall of Jeida Torres, 3, and Thaiya Spruill-Smith, 2, in Brooklyn, and Poseidon Quinones, 3, of the Bronx. The girls died in separate incidents, allegedly at the hands of abusive step-fathers. Poseidon’s step-grandfather was arrested a month ago and charged with beating him to death.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/charges-dad-baby-death-boosted-article-1.2056874
Queens man arrested for assaulting infant son will face upgraded charge after baby dies
Nevin Janduher died of severe head injuries he suffered while in care of his father, Jagsheer Singh.
BY Oren Yaniv / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS / Published: Thursday, December 25, 2014, 10:59 PM Updated: Friday, December 26, 2014, 2:18 AM
Father of infant will face upgraded criminal charges in beating death of son.
A Queens father who was arrested last weekend for allegedly assaulting his 4-month-old son will soon face an upgraded criminal charge after the child died hours before Christmas.
Nevin Janduher died of severe head injuries Wednesday afternoon at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, a facility that shares a campus in New Hyde Park with Long Island Jewish Medical Center, where the boy’s mother works as a radiologist. The NYPD announced the child’s death Thursday.
The boy suffered the injuries last Friday while in the care of his father, Jagsheer Singh, 28, police said. Singh’s wife, Dr. Reena Malhotra, was at work that day. She returned to the couple’s Bayside home early Saturday and went to sleep without checking on the baby, prosecutors said. Nevin appeared to be fine at 7 a.m. Saturday, when Singh made him a bottle, according to statements he allegedly made, prosecutors said. The father then gave the boy a bath, and during that process the boy fell off a changing table that was about 4 feet off the floor, Singh said. Singh did not tell his wife about the fall, prosecutors said.
At 8 a.m., Singh noticed the child was unresponsive, and he then awakened his wife and called 911, according to his statement.
But doctors determined the baby “suffered multiple severe skull fractures, widespread brain injury resulting from lack of oxygen and retinal hemorrhages,” prosecutors have said. They argued the trauma was inconsistent with a fall.
Singh was arraigned Monday on charges of first-degree assault and child endangerment. He was jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail. In a news release Monday, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown vowed charges would be upgraded against Singh if Nevin died. On Thursday night, a spokeswoman from Brown’s office said upgraded charges would await results of an autopsy performed by the medical examiner. Singh is due in court Jan. 5.
Nevin’s fate appears to mirror the deaths this fall of Jeida Torres, 3, and Thaiya Spruill-Smith, 2, in Brooklyn, and Poseidon Quinones, 3, of the Bronx. The girls died in separate incidents, allegedly at the hands of abusive step-fathers. Poseidon’s step-grandfather was arrested a month ago and charged with beating him to death.
Dad arrested for abusing 4-month-old son (Redding, California)
Dad is identified as MICHAEL KIMBLER. No mention of a mother in the home.
http://www.krcrtv.com/father-arrested-for-alleged-child-abuse/30416234
Father arrested for alleged child abuse
Haleigh Pike, Assignment Editor
POSTED: 1:45 PM Dec 26 2014 UPDATED: 1:45 PM Dec 26 2014
REDDING, Calif. - A Cottonwood man was arrested Friday morning for allegedly abusing his 4-month-old son and then fleeing the scene.
Shasta County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a trailer park located in the 23000 block of Lone Tree Road in Cottonwood around 6 a.m. to assist medical personnel. When they arrived on scene they learned that a 4-month-old child was being transported to the hospital by ambulance for visible facial injuries.
Deputies learned that the father of the child, Michael Kimbler, 30, was alone with the child at the time of the incident and that he had fled the scene once the ambulance arrived.
Information regarding Kimbler’s whereabouts was given to deputies and they were able to locate him hiding in the bathroom of a nearby mobile home. Kimbler was arrested for felony child abuse and booked into the Shasta County Jail with a bail of $50,000.
The infants identity and condition is unknown at his time.
http://www.krcrtv.com/father-arrested-for-alleged-child-abuse/30416234
Father arrested for alleged child abuse
Haleigh Pike, Assignment Editor
POSTED: 1:45 PM Dec 26 2014 UPDATED: 1:45 PM Dec 26 2014
REDDING, Calif. - A Cottonwood man was arrested Friday morning for allegedly abusing his 4-month-old son and then fleeing the scene.
Shasta County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a trailer park located in the 23000 block of Lone Tree Road in Cottonwood around 6 a.m. to assist medical personnel. When they arrived on scene they learned that a 4-month-old child was being transported to the hospital by ambulance for visible facial injuries.
Deputies learned that the father of the child, Michael Kimbler, 30, was alone with the child at the time of the incident and that he had fled the scene once the ambulance arrived.
Information regarding Kimbler’s whereabouts was given to deputies and they were able to locate him hiding in the bathroom of a nearby mobile home. Kimbler was arrested for felony child abuse and booked into the Shasta County Jail with a bail of $50,000.
The infants identity and condition is unknown at his time.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Dad charged with felony assault in beating of 6-year-old son; was this a custody/visitation situation? (Glens Falls, New York)
Get a clue, folks. If the "spanking" is hard enough to leave welts, it's not a spanking. It's a beating.
Also, notice the language about when this took place. Did this beating take place during the father's visitation/custody time?
Dad is identified as JEFREY LAMPHEAR.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Queensbury-father-arrested-after-allegedly-5979161.php
Queensbury father arrested after allegedly spanking son, leaving welts
By Keshia Clukey Published 8:22 pm, Thursday, December 25, 2014
A Glens Falls man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly spanked his 6-year-old hard enough to leave welts, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office.
Jeffrey Lamphear, 39, of Queensbury was charged with felony assault.
Sheriff's investigators and county Child Protective Services were called to a Glens Falls home Monday for reports of possible child abuse that occurred on Saturday, according to a news release.
Investigators spoke with a 6-year-old and his mother. The boy told investigators that over the weekend his father struck him several times on the buttocks leaving bruising and welts, according to the release. His mother found the bruises Sunday night when the boy got back from his grandparents' house. His mother brought him to the emergency room, The boy was not seriously injured.
Lamphear, the boy's father, admitted to investigators that he had spanked the child as a punishment but may have hit harder than he expected, according to the release.
Lamphear was arraigned and released with a full no contact order of protection for the victim.
Also, notice the language about when this took place. Did this beating take place during the father's visitation/custody time?
Dad is identified as JEFREY LAMPHEAR.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Queensbury-father-arrested-after-allegedly-5979161.php
Queensbury father arrested after allegedly spanking son, leaving welts
By Keshia Clukey Published 8:22 pm, Thursday, December 25, 2014
A Glens Falls man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly spanked his 6-year-old hard enough to leave welts, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office.
Jeffrey Lamphear, 39, of Queensbury was charged with felony assault.
Sheriff's investigators and county Child Protective Services were called to a Glens Falls home Monday for reports of possible child abuse that occurred on Saturday, according to a news release.
Investigators spoke with a 6-year-old and his mother. The boy told investigators that over the weekend his father struck him several times on the buttocks leaving bruising and welts, according to the release. His mother found the bruises Sunday night when the boy got back from his grandparents' house. His mother brought him to the emergency room, The boy was not seriously injured.
Lamphear, the boy's father, admitted to investigators that he had spanked the child as a punishment but may have hit harder than he expected, according to the release.
Lamphear was arraigned and released with a full no contact order of protection for the victim.
Dad charged with murder in case of missing 2-year-old son (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Dad is identified as STEVEN DANIEL BLUE.
http://www.wncn.com/story/27706104/father-of-missing-toddler-tristan-blue-charged-with-his-murder
Father of missing toddler Tristan Blue charged with his murder
Posted: Dec 25, 2014 7:36 AM EST
Updated: Dec 26, 2014 2:51 PM EST
by WNCN Staff
RALEIGH, N.C. - The search for missing Raleigh 2-year-old Tristan Blue has now turned into a homicide investigation after Raleigh police charged Tristan's father with murder.
Steven Daniel Blue, 31, has been charged with murder and has been transferred to the Wake County Detention Center. He is being held without bond.
Tristan's mother, Briana Dangerfield, 25, has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse in connection with the case. Dangerfield was also transferred to the Wake County Detention Center and is being held under a $100,000 bond.
Neighbors said the news was heartbreaking for the community. "It's a somber mood," said neighbor, Ms. Mitchell. "Everybody is just kind of moseying around and doing the best they can. Of course there were several plenty of police officers patrolling so everybody is just kind of in a downward type of mood."
An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday evening for the toddler after he went missing at approximately 1 p.m. in the 5400 block of Portree Place in Raleigh.
The body of Tristan Blue has not been recovered and the case remains under investigation, Raleigh police said.
In a 911 called released Friday by Raleigh police, the caller told the dispatcher she woke up 15 minutes previously to find a 3-year-old missing.
The caller said there was a package outside the house and the child was gone.
The caller tells 911 she has walked around the complex screaming for the child and that neighbors are out looking for him.
She also says she isn't sure if the child can open the door to get out of the apartment.
“He can close it and unlock it but I haven't seen him able to open it,” the caller said.
Anyone with knowledge that might assist detectives is asked to contact the Raleigh police tip line at 919-834-HELP.
http://www.wncn.com/story/27706104/father-of-missing-toddler-tristan-blue-charged-with-his-murder
Father of missing toddler Tristan Blue charged with his murder
Posted: Dec 25, 2014 7:36 AM EST
Updated: Dec 26, 2014 2:51 PM EST
by WNCN Staff
RALEIGH, N.C. - The search for missing Raleigh 2-year-old Tristan Blue has now turned into a homicide investigation after Raleigh police charged Tristan's father with murder.
Steven Daniel Blue, 31, has been charged with murder and has been transferred to the Wake County Detention Center. He is being held without bond.
Tristan's mother, Briana Dangerfield, 25, has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse in connection with the case. Dangerfield was also transferred to the Wake County Detention Center and is being held under a $100,000 bond.
Neighbors said the news was heartbreaking for the community. "It's a somber mood," said neighbor, Ms. Mitchell. "Everybody is just kind of moseying around and doing the best they can. Of course there were several plenty of police officers patrolling so everybody is just kind of in a downward type of mood."
An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday evening for the toddler after he went missing at approximately 1 p.m. in the 5400 block of Portree Place in Raleigh.
The body of Tristan Blue has not been recovered and the case remains under investigation, Raleigh police said.
In a 911 called released Friday by Raleigh police, the caller told the dispatcher she woke up 15 minutes previously to find a 3-year-old missing.
The caller said there was a package outside the house and the child was gone.
The caller tells 911 she has walked around the complex screaming for the child and that neighbors are out looking for him.
She also says she isn't sure if the child can open the door to get out of the apartment.
“He can close it and unlock it but I haven't seen him able to open it,” the caller said.
Anyone with knowledge that might assist detectives is asked to contact the Raleigh police tip line at 919-834-HELP.
Custodial dad loses parental rights due to abuse; later arrested for abducting two kids--what happened to Mom? (Ithanca, New York)
The great unanswered question here: how did this abusive father with a history of substance abuse get custody of two young children to begin with? And what happened to the mother of these kids?
Dad is identified as LEONARD L. THORNE.
http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/public-safety/2014/12/24/tompkins-children-abducted-suspect-father/20860645/
Enfield father arraigned on abduction charges
Andrew Casler, 12:09 p.m. EST December 25, 2014
ITHACA – Leonard L. Thorne, 38, of Enfield, was arraigned Wednesday for allegedly abducting his two children after losing parental custody, a Tompkins County Sheriff's Office news release said.
Sheriff's Deputies said Thorne abducted the children, ages 2 and 4, around 4 p.m. Tuesday on Heron Drive. He had recently learned of a court order that removed the kids from his custody, and that he had an arrest warrant for child neglect, a news release said.
The Sheriff's Office issued an AMBER Alert for the children on Wednesday morning, and Thorne was found riding a Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Bus with the children around 1:15 p.m.
A TCAT bus driver identified Thorne from the AMBER Alert, and the driver held the bus on Cornell University's campus while area police converged on the area, a TCAT news release said.
Cornell University Police took Thorne into custody without incident, and the children were unharmed. Tompkins County Department of Social Services has taken custody of the children. Thorne was arraigned before Tompkins County Court Judge Rowley on Wednesday.
The children had been removed from Thorne's custody due to substance abuse, child abuse and neglect history, according to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office.
Dad is identified as LEONARD L. THORNE.
http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/public-safety/2014/12/24/tompkins-children-abducted-suspect-father/20860645/
Enfield father arraigned on abduction charges
Andrew Casler, 12:09 p.m. EST December 25, 2014
ITHACA – Leonard L. Thorne, 38, of Enfield, was arraigned Wednesday for allegedly abducting his two children after losing parental custody, a Tompkins County Sheriff's Office news release said.
Sheriff's Deputies said Thorne abducted the children, ages 2 and 4, around 4 p.m. Tuesday on Heron Drive. He had recently learned of a court order that removed the kids from his custody, and that he had an arrest warrant for child neglect, a news release said.
The Sheriff's Office issued an AMBER Alert for the children on Wednesday morning, and Thorne was found riding a Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Bus with the children around 1:15 p.m.
A TCAT bus driver identified Thorne from the AMBER Alert, and the driver held the bus on Cornell University's campus while area police converged on the area, a TCAT news release said.
Cornell University Police took Thorne into custody without incident, and the children were unharmed. Tompkins County Department of Social Services has taken custody of the children. Thorne was arraigned before Tompkins County Court Judge Rowley on Wednesday.
The children had been removed from Thorne's custody due to substance abuse, child abuse and neglect history, according to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Dad with history of domestic violence, assault arrested for abusing 4-month-old baby (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Dad is identified as PAUL RAY WATSON. No mention of a mother, either in the home or elsewhere.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865618219/Man-wanted-in-assault-case-arrested-for-alleged-child-abuse.html?pg=all
Man wanted in assault case arrested for alleged child abuse
By Pat Reavy, Deseret News Published: Sunday, Dec. 21 2014 5:00 p.m. MST
Updated: Sunday, Dec. 21 2014 5:54 p.m. MST
A father accused of shaking his 4-month-old child was arrested Friday for investigation of intentional child abuse.
SALT LAKE CITY — A father accused of shaking his 4-month-old child was arrested Friday for investigation of intentional child abuse.
Paul Ray Watson, 23, of Salt Lake City, allegedly shook his child at least twice over the past month, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
"Both of these caused hemorrhaging inside the child's head," according to the jail report. "The child is currently admitted into the hospital as of this writing waiting for surgery."
Watson was arrested just before 11 p.m. Friday for investigation of two counts of felony child abuse. In addition, he had warrants out for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a 2013 charge of battery, a class B misdemeanor, in Salt Lake City Justice Court, and for assault, a class B misdemeanor, in a separate 2012 case also in Salt Lake City Justice Court that involved domestic violence, according to court records.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865618219/Man-wanted-in-assault-case-arrested-for-alleged-child-abuse.html?pg=all
Man wanted in assault case arrested for alleged child abuse
By Pat Reavy, Deseret News Published: Sunday, Dec. 21 2014 5:00 p.m. MST
Updated: Sunday, Dec. 21 2014 5:54 p.m. MST
A father accused of shaking his 4-month-old child was arrested Friday for investigation of intentional child abuse.
SALT LAKE CITY — A father accused of shaking his 4-month-old child was arrested Friday for investigation of intentional child abuse.
Paul Ray Watson, 23, of Salt Lake City, allegedly shook his child at least twice over the past month, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
"Both of these caused hemorrhaging inside the child's head," according to the jail report. "The child is currently admitted into the hospital as of this writing waiting for surgery."
Watson was arrested just before 11 p.m. Friday for investigation of two counts of felony child abuse. In addition, he had warrants out for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a 2013 charge of battery, a class B misdemeanor, in Salt Lake City Justice Court, and for assault, a class B misdemeanor, in a separate 2012 case also in Salt Lake City Justice Court that involved domestic violence, according to court records.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Dad, step plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide in death of 18-month-old daughter, will serve NO jail time (Huntsville, Alabama)
Lots of unanswered questions here. What happened to this poor child's mother? Is she deceased? Did the father assume custody upon her death? Or did he assume custody/visitation rights after a divorce/separation? Did he had full custody, shared custody, what? Either way, who awarded a negligent father with an alcohol problem access to a toddler? And why is he being treated with such leniency? Typical father coddling.
Dad is identified as KRISTOPHER SPEIGNER.
http://whnt.com/2014/12/15/man-wife-plead-guilty-to-criminally-negligent-homicide-in-toddlers-death/
Man, wife cut plea deal, will not serve jail time in toddler’s death
Posted 4:09 pm, December 15, 2014, by Drew Galloway, Updated at 04:47pm, December 15, 2014
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Kristopher and Joy Lynn Speigner pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the 2012 death of an 18-month-old girl Monday.
They were sentenced to two years of probation. They will also pay a $500 fine and perform some community service. According to the terms of the plea, if they violate their probation, they will go to jail for one year.
In 2012, 18-month-old McKenzie Riegn Speigner died after ingesting dishwashing detergent. Her parents were both too intoxicated to help her, according to court records.
In an affidavit, Madison Police Sgt. Drew Westrope testified that the girl swallowed dishwashing detergent that was in tablet form at an apartment on Colonial Lake Drive in Madison.
Her father and her stepmother, both of whom have an Enterprise address, “did not seek medical help” for the child “due to (their) state of intoxication, which was the result of ingesting pharmaceutical medication and drinking alcohol,” according to the affidavits filed in each case.
McKenzie was later pronounced dead by medical personnel. The Madison County Coroner said an examination showed the child had swallowed a dishwasher gel pack.
The couple was scheduled to appear for a bench trial in Judge Schuyler Richardson’s courtroom in Sept., but the two didn’t show up. They were re-arrested in south Alabama later that month.
Criminally negligent homicide is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
Dad is identified as KRISTOPHER SPEIGNER.
http://whnt.com/2014/12/15/man-wife-plead-guilty-to-criminally-negligent-homicide-in-toddlers-death/
Man, wife cut plea deal, will not serve jail time in toddler’s death
Posted 4:09 pm, December 15, 2014, by Drew Galloway, Updated at 04:47pm, December 15, 2014
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Kristopher and Joy Lynn Speigner pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the 2012 death of an 18-month-old girl Monday.
They were sentenced to two years of probation. They will also pay a $500 fine and perform some community service. According to the terms of the plea, if they violate their probation, they will go to jail for one year.
In 2012, 18-month-old McKenzie Riegn Speigner died after ingesting dishwashing detergent. Her parents were both too intoxicated to help her, according to court records.
In an affidavit, Madison Police Sgt. Drew Westrope testified that the girl swallowed dishwashing detergent that was in tablet form at an apartment on Colonial Lake Drive in Madison.
Her father and her stepmother, both of whom have an Enterprise address, “did not seek medical help” for the child “due to (their) state of intoxication, which was the result of ingesting pharmaceutical medication and drinking alcohol,” according to the affidavits filed in each case.
McKenzie was later pronounced dead by medical personnel. The Madison County Coroner said an examination showed the child had swallowed a dishwasher gel pack.
The couple was scheduled to appear for a bench trial in Judge Schuyler Richardson’s courtroom in Sept., but the two didn’t show up. They were re-arrested in south Alabama later that month.
Criminally negligent homicide is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Dad accused of battering 18-month-old daughter bonded out of jail (Lebanon, Indiana)
Dad is identified as TIMOTHY GRISSOM.
http://www.jconline.com/story/news/2014/12/18/father-bonds-baby-battery-case/20586335/
Battered baby's father bonds out
Steven Porter, 11:06 a.m. EST December 19, 2014
A father accused of battering his 18-month-old daughter bonded out of jail Saturday.
No formal charges have been filed against 22-year-old Timothy Grissom of Lebanon, but that could change.
Tippecanoe Superior Court Judge Randy Williams wrote in court documents Dec. 12 that the baby's condition is still serious, and her prognosis could affect the nature of any charges filed.
The infant sustained a fractured skull and other injuries, which Grissom attributed to an accident, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Grissom told police his daughter hit her head on the kitchen counter while he was giving her a bath in the sink, then she fell and hit her face on the floor, court documents state.
Even though he thought the girl had a mild concussion, he told police he didn't seek medical treatment that night — instead, he put her to bed.
The girl was "fussy" the next morning and her mother could tell something was wrong, so she and Grissom took the child to the emergency room Dec. 11, according to the affidavit.
Dr. Andrew Alaimo with Franciscan St. Elizabeth Hospital East in Lafayette told police the girl's injuries appear to be deliberate, and court documents state he described the incident as "a shaken baby syndrome case."
http://www.jconline.com/story/news/2014/12/18/father-bonds-baby-battery-case/20586335/
Battered baby's father bonds out
Steven Porter, 11:06 a.m. EST December 19, 2014
A father accused of battering his 18-month-old daughter bonded out of jail Saturday.
No formal charges have been filed against 22-year-old Timothy Grissom of Lebanon, but that could change.
Tippecanoe Superior Court Judge Randy Williams wrote in court documents Dec. 12 that the baby's condition is still serious, and her prognosis could affect the nature of any charges filed.
The infant sustained a fractured skull and other injuries, which Grissom attributed to an accident, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Grissom told police his daughter hit her head on the kitchen counter while he was giving her a bath in the sink, then she fell and hit her face on the floor, court documents state.
Even though he thought the girl had a mild concussion, he told police he didn't seek medical treatment that night — instead, he put her to bed.
The girl was "fussy" the next morning and her mother could tell something was wrong, so she and Grissom took the child to the emergency room Dec. 11, according to the affidavit.
Dr. Andrew Alaimo with Franciscan St. Elizabeth Hospital East in Lafayette told police the girl's injuries appear to be deliberate, and court documents state he described the incident as "a shaken baby syndrome case."
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Dad charged with killing 6-month-old son during very first overnight visitation (Genesee County, New York)
Dad is identified as JEFFREY DEATS. It is stupid for men who have only had casual sexual relationships with a woman to have any subsequent access rights to the baby. They are not committed to the mother, the family, or the child. They are not bonded to the mother, the family, or the child. It's just a recipe for disaster as we see here.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/18/man-charged-infant-death/20616835/
New York man charged in death of infant
Tina McIntyre-Yee, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 8:28 p.m. EST December 18, 2014
BATAVIA, N.Y. -- Jeffrey Deats, a 28-year-old Batavia resident accused of recklessly causing the death of a 6-month-old boy, was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter.
An autopsy performed at the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office indicated Chandler Zuch of Kenmore, N.Y., suffered "multiple injuries to the brain, causing death," said Batavia City Police Chief Shawn Heubusch.
The child's body was sent to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for further examination.
According to court documents, Chandler's death was reported about 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The documents said Deats and his mother called 911 to report the infant was not breathing.
Emergency responders arrived about 10 a.m. at Deats' home, but attempts to revive the non-responsive infant were unsuccessful, authorities said. The infant was taken to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, where he was pronounced dead.
According to Deats' statement, Chandler's mother, Michelle Zuch, told him that DNA testing showed that he was the infant's father, and he had occasional visits with the child.
However, Batavia police spokesman Detective Eric Hill said Thursday night that his department had received documentation showing that Deats is not, in fact, the father of the child.
Deats told police that he was having his first overnight visit with Chandler since he started having visitation with the baby two months ago. Deats and his mother, Jacquelyn Deats, together retrieved the boy from his mother's home Saturday morning.
Deats said to police that on the way back to Batavia, Chandler reached for a plastic toy and smacked himself in the mouth, knocking out a tooth and causing bleeding. He said he called the boy's mom to tell her what happened.
Zuch and police arrived at Deats' home a short time later. According to Deats' statement, the police talked with both Zuch and Deats and checked Chandler's lip.
Deats, who initially said the baby was just fussy, later told police that he tripped and fell down the stairs while holding the infant.
At the time of the fall, Deats said, Chandler's "head was going back and forth really bad," and claimed he tried to protect Chandler as they fell.
According to Jacquelyn Deats' statement, she heard Chandler crying off and on overnight. Early Sunday morning, Deats asked her to watch Chandler, saying he was tired from being up all night. She said to police, "Jeff was really upset. He laid Chandler on the couch and said, 'Now go to sleep, you (expletive).' "
She also said, "When I looked at the baby, I knew something was wrong. He was breathing very slow, shallow and labored breaths. I was just praying that he was going to be okay."
Deats came downstairs about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, according to court documents, after being awakened by Zuch "blowing up my phone again."
He took a photo of Chandler, sent it to Zuch and was suddenly worried that Chandler had died, he told police. He claimed he tried to revive the infant before his mother called 911.
Deats was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Batavia City Court and was remanded to Genesee County Jail on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/18/man-charged-infant-death/20616835/
New York man charged in death of infant
Tina McIntyre-Yee, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 8:28 p.m. EST December 18, 2014
BATAVIA, N.Y. -- Jeffrey Deats, a 28-year-old Batavia resident accused of recklessly causing the death of a 6-month-old boy, was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter.
An autopsy performed at the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office indicated Chandler Zuch of Kenmore, N.Y., suffered "multiple injuries to the brain, causing death," said Batavia City Police Chief Shawn Heubusch.
The child's body was sent to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for further examination.
According to court documents, Chandler's death was reported about 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The documents said Deats and his mother called 911 to report the infant was not breathing.
Emergency responders arrived about 10 a.m. at Deats' home, but attempts to revive the non-responsive infant were unsuccessful, authorities said. The infant was taken to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, where he was pronounced dead.
According to Deats' statement, Chandler's mother, Michelle Zuch, told him that DNA testing showed that he was the infant's father, and he had occasional visits with the child.
However, Batavia police spokesman Detective Eric Hill said Thursday night that his department had received documentation showing that Deats is not, in fact, the father of the child.
Deats told police that he was having his first overnight visit with Chandler since he started having visitation with the baby two months ago. Deats and his mother, Jacquelyn Deats, together retrieved the boy from his mother's home Saturday morning.
Deats said to police that on the way back to Batavia, Chandler reached for a plastic toy and smacked himself in the mouth, knocking out a tooth and causing bleeding. He said he called the boy's mom to tell her what happened.
Zuch and police arrived at Deats' home a short time later. According to Deats' statement, the police talked with both Zuch and Deats and checked Chandler's lip.
Deats, who initially said the baby was just fussy, later told police that he tripped and fell down the stairs while holding the infant.
At the time of the fall, Deats said, Chandler's "head was going back and forth really bad," and claimed he tried to protect Chandler as they fell.
According to Jacquelyn Deats' statement, she heard Chandler crying off and on overnight. Early Sunday morning, Deats asked her to watch Chandler, saying he was tired from being up all night. She said to police, "Jeff was really upset. He laid Chandler on the couch and said, 'Now go to sleep, you (expletive).' "
She also said, "When I looked at the baby, I knew something was wrong. He was breathing very slow, shallow and labored breaths. I was just praying that he was going to be okay."
Deats came downstairs about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, according to court documents, after being awakened by Zuch "blowing up my phone again."
He took a photo of Chandler, sent it to Zuch and was suddenly worried that Chandler had died, he told police. He claimed he tried to revive the infant before his mother called 911.
Deats was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Batavia City Court and was remanded to Genesee County Jail on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.
Dad arrested for "ripping" 6-month-old daughter during diaper change (Dallas, Texas)
Dad SPENCER MATTHEW HENDERSON says he was having a "bad day."
What a sick bastard....
http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2014/12/23-year-old-father-accused-of-seriously-wounding-infants-genitals-during-diaper-change.html/
Police arrest 23-year-old father who says he “ripped” infant daughter during diaper change Tasha Tsiaperas
Published: December 17, 2014 2:04 pm
A Dallas man is accused of seriously wounding his infant daughter’s genitals during a diaper change.
Spencer Matthew Henderson, 23, has been charged with injury to a child. He was arrested Tuesday and remains in the Dallas County Jail in lieu of $125,000.
Dallas police officers responded to a possible child abuse report Dec. 8 at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. A 6-month-old girl had been taken to the hospital with wounds to her genitals, according to police records.
During police interviews, Henderson said that he was rough with the baby while he was changing her diaper because he was having a bad day and had a lot on his mind, the warrant says.
“I know I was being rough with her,” records show Henderson told detectives.
He said that while he was trying to change the baby’s diaper, she was keeping her legs straight. He said that he aggressively pulled her legs apart and used a baby wipe to clean her “hard” and “fast.” He told police that he thinks he might have “ripped” her, the warrant says.
Henderson’s girlfriend, who is also the baby’s mother, told police that she thought Henderson accidentally cut the infant with his long fingernail.
The couple put the diaper on the infant, but she was still bleeding several hours later. That’s when they took her to a hospital, police records show.
What a sick bastard....
http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2014/12/23-year-old-father-accused-of-seriously-wounding-infants-genitals-during-diaper-change.html/
Police arrest 23-year-old father who says he “ripped” infant daughter during diaper change Tasha Tsiaperas
Published: December 17, 2014 2:04 pm
A Dallas man is accused of seriously wounding his infant daughter’s genitals during a diaper change.
Spencer Matthew Henderson, 23, has been charged with injury to a child. He was arrested Tuesday and remains in the Dallas County Jail in lieu of $125,000.
Dallas police officers responded to a possible child abuse report Dec. 8 at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. A 6-month-old girl had been taken to the hospital with wounds to her genitals, according to police records.
During police interviews, Henderson said that he was rough with the baby while he was changing her diaper because he was having a bad day and had a lot on his mind, the warrant says.
“I know I was being rough with her,” records show Henderson told detectives.
He said that while he was trying to change the baby’s diaper, she was keeping her legs straight. He said that he aggressively pulled her legs apart and used a baby wipe to clean her “hard” and “fast.” He told police that he thinks he might have “ripped” her, the warrant says.
Henderson’s girlfriend, who is also the baby’s mother, told police that she thought Henderson accidentally cut the infant with his long fingernail.
The couple put the diaper on the infant, but she was still bleeding several hours later. That’s when they took her to a hospital, police records show.
Dad arrested for sexually assaulting 14-year-old daughter (Barbour County, Alabama)
Dad is identified as ROGER DALE WALDEN.
http://www.wtvy.com/home/headlines/Barbour-County-Authorities-Arrest-Man-for-Sexually-Abusing-Daughter--286273761.html
Barbour County Authorities Arrest Man for Sexually Abusing Daughter
Posted: Thu 3:26 PM, Dec 18, 2014
Barbour County authorities arrest man for sexually abusing his 14-year-old daughter.
On Monday, December 15th, a report was filed with the Barbour County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division by Barbour County DHR that a 14-year-old female had advised her mother that she had been molested by her biological father for over four years.
The minor was forced to watch pornographic movies and forced to download pornographic movies and images by her father during the molestation incidents.
Investigators and deputies from the Barbour County Sheriff's Office, served a search warrant on the home, vehicle and person of Roger Dale Walden. The search warrant was served at Walden's home in Eufaula.
On Tuesday, December 16th, case evidence was obtained inside the residence and vehicle possessed by Roger Dale Walden. Walden was arrested and transported to the Barbour County Sheriff's Office to be formally interviewed. During the interview with Walden, sufficient evidence was gathered to charge
Walden with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12, sexual abuse 2nd degree and electronic enticement of a child. Walden was arrested on additional charges and bond set at $100,000.00.
http://www.wtvy.com/home/headlines/Barbour-County-Authorities-Arrest-Man-for-Sexually-Abusing-Daughter--286273761.html
Barbour County Authorities Arrest Man for Sexually Abusing Daughter
Posted: Thu 3:26 PM, Dec 18, 2014
Barbour County authorities arrest man for sexually abusing his 14-year-old daughter.
On Monday, December 15th, a report was filed with the Barbour County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division by Barbour County DHR that a 14-year-old female had advised her mother that she had been molested by her biological father for over four years.
The minor was forced to watch pornographic movies and forced to download pornographic movies and images by her father during the molestation incidents.
Investigators and deputies from the Barbour County Sheriff's Office, served a search warrant on the home, vehicle and person of Roger Dale Walden. The search warrant was served at Walden's home in Eufaula.
On Tuesday, December 16th, case evidence was obtained inside the residence and vehicle possessed by Roger Dale Walden. Walden was arrested and transported to the Barbour County Sheriff's Office to be formally interviewed. During the interview with Walden, sufficient evidence was gathered to charge
Walden with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12, sexual abuse 2nd degree and electronic enticement of a child. Walden was arrested on additional charges and bond set at $100,000.00.
Dad to be sentenced for abusing 11-week-old baby; infant had multiple fractures (Marshfield, Wisconsin)
Dad is identified as SEBASTIAN SUCHOMEL.
http://www.wsaw.com/news/headlines/Marshfield-Man-to-be-Sentenced-in-Child-Abuse-Case-286250061.html
Marshfield Man to be Sentenced in Child Abuse Case
Updated: Thu 12:21 PM, Dec 18, 2014
By: WSAW Staff
A 22-year-old Marshfield man convicted of abusing a then 11-week-old child is scheduled to find out how long he'll spend behind bars in February.
Sebastian Suchomel reached a plea deal with prosecutor Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to once count of child abuse, as result another was dismissed but will be considered during sentencing.
According to the criminal complaint, an investigation began Oct. 24, 2013. The child was examined at the Marshfield Clinic on Nov. 7, 2013 and found to have multiple fractures.
According to court documents, a doctor described the child's injuries as non-accidental. The infant had two fractures to its left arm, three fractured ribs, and a possible fracture to its leg. The doctor said the injures to its limbs may have been the result of pulling or yanking. The injuries to the ribs may have been the result of squeezing or pushing on the chest captivity.
Suchomel, the baby's father, said he may have swaddled the baby too tightly. He also stated when the child was about a month old, he grabbed the baby's left arm and leg and flipped the baby over. According to the criminal complaint, that's when Suchomel said he heard a pop and the child's arm when limp, and continued to be limp.
Suchomel remains in custody in the Wood County Jail. He remains behind bars on a $10,000 cash bond.
A sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 20.
http://www.wsaw.com/news/headlines/Marshfield-Man-to-be-Sentenced-in-Child-Abuse-Case-286250061.html
Marshfield Man to be Sentenced in Child Abuse Case
Updated: Thu 12:21 PM, Dec 18, 2014
By: WSAW Staff
A 22-year-old Marshfield man convicted of abusing a then 11-week-old child is scheduled to find out how long he'll spend behind bars in February.
Sebastian Suchomel reached a plea deal with prosecutor Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to once count of child abuse, as result another was dismissed but will be considered during sentencing.
According to the criminal complaint, an investigation began Oct. 24, 2013. The child was examined at the Marshfield Clinic on Nov. 7, 2013 and found to have multiple fractures.
According to court documents, a doctor described the child's injuries as non-accidental. The infant had two fractures to its left arm, three fractured ribs, and a possible fracture to its leg. The doctor said the injures to its limbs may have been the result of pulling or yanking. The injuries to the ribs may have been the result of squeezing or pushing on the chest captivity.
Suchomel, the baby's father, said he may have swaddled the baby too tightly. He also stated when the child was about a month old, he grabbed the baby's left arm and leg and flipped the baby over. According to the criminal complaint, that's when Suchomel said he heard a pop and the child's arm when limp, and continued to be limp.
Suchomel remains in custody in the Wood County Jail. He remains behind bars on a $10,000 cash bond.
A sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 20.
Dad who "feuded" with mom for child custody gets life in prison for murdering two daughters (Melbourne, Australia)
Once again, we see how a violent father used a "custody" feud as a way to fight the mother. When that didn't win, he murdered the kids to "spite her." This piece of sh** should have been kept from having any access at all. No access=no killing.
Dad is identified as CHARLES AMON MIHAYO.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/25813895/life-for-dad-who-killed-to-spite-ex-wife/
Life for dad who killed to spite ex-wife
Melbourne
December 19, 2014, 2:00 am
A Melbourne father who made his two daughters pay with their lives to inflict pain on his former wife has been jailed for life.
Charles Amon Mihayo, 36, must serve at least 31 years for smothering four-year-old Savannah and three-year-old Indianna with a pillow during a game of hide-and-seek on Easter Sunday.
He told police they would not understand what he had been through and providing a reason for his crime would not make a difference.
But Victorian Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry said yesterday that Mihayo's crimes were inextricably linked to his conflict with his former wife.
"You determined she would pay the price and inevitably so would your children - with their lives," he said. "You decided to demonstrate to your ex-wife that she did not have the control over the children and their relationship with you that she thought she had.
"Your breach of parental trust is almost beyond belief. You gave in to the basest of instincts, revenge."
Justice Lasry said though Mihayo took responsibility for murdering his daughters, he was not truly remorseful.
"You acknowledged what you did was wrong but I am not at all sure that you actually regret what you have done," he said.
"You do not appear to me to be crushed or broken in spirit by your wrongdoing."
Mihayo separated from his wife in 2011 and the pair began feuding over child custody arrangements.
In the weeks before the April 20 murders, he told his former wife he was relinquishing his entitlement to see the girls.
But he texted her asking to see the children one last time and told her she had "won".
Before they arrived at his home, Mihayo went shopping to buy the girls new dresses and shoes.
He dressed them in the frocks and filmed them dancing to the song Let It Go from the movie Frozen, then suffocated them.
He bathed them and put them back in their dresses before calling police.
The family of Savannah and Indianna said the girls would be "forever missed, loved and never forgotten".
The Tanzanian-born Mihayo did not react in the court dock as he was sentenced.
Dad is identified as CHARLES AMON MIHAYO.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/25813895/life-for-dad-who-killed-to-spite-ex-wife/
Life for dad who killed to spite ex-wife
Melbourne
December 19, 2014, 2:00 am
A Melbourne father who made his two daughters pay with their lives to inflict pain on his former wife has been jailed for life.
Charles Amon Mihayo, 36, must serve at least 31 years for smothering four-year-old Savannah and three-year-old Indianna with a pillow during a game of hide-and-seek on Easter Sunday.
He told police they would not understand what he had been through and providing a reason for his crime would not make a difference.
But Victorian Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry said yesterday that Mihayo's crimes were inextricably linked to his conflict with his former wife.
"You determined she would pay the price and inevitably so would your children - with their lives," he said. "You decided to demonstrate to your ex-wife that she did not have the control over the children and their relationship with you that she thought she had.
"Your breach of parental trust is almost beyond belief. You gave in to the basest of instincts, revenge."
Justice Lasry said though Mihayo took responsibility for murdering his daughters, he was not truly remorseful.
"You acknowledged what you did was wrong but I am not at all sure that you actually regret what you have done," he said.
"You do not appear to me to be crushed or broken in spirit by your wrongdoing."
Mihayo separated from his wife in 2011 and the pair began feuding over child custody arrangements.
In the weeks before the April 20 murders, he told his former wife he was relinquishing his entitlement to see the girls.
But he texted her asking to see the children one last time and told her she had "won".
Before they arrived at his home, Mihayo went shopping to buy the girls new dresses and shoes.
He dressed them in the frocks and filmed them dancing to the song Let It Go from the movie Frozen, then suffocated them.
He bathed them and put them back in their dresses before calling police.
The family of Savannah and Indianna said the girls would be "forever missed, loved and never forgotten".
The Tanzanian-born Mihayo did not react in the court dock as he was sentenced.
Stay-at-home dad shoots and kills 19-year-old son in murder-suicide (Cheshire, Connecticut)
Reminds me of a recent case in Florida where a stay-at-home dad killed two kids in a murder-suicide. In that case, they parents were in the process of getting a divorce and the father wanted full control of everything, just as he had managed to get away with doing pretty much nothing during the marriage. (From my experience and the studies I have seen, "stay-at-home father" is basically a euphemism for an unemployed father who is either unable or unwilling to work for living, but is too "proud" to do anything around the house either, because that would compromise his "masculinity." So it basically become like having another child in house, but one that never grows up.)
Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER P. SETTEMBRI.
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Police-Investigating-Cheshire-Incident-286001931.html
Father, Son Dead in Cheshire Murder-Suicide
By Ari Mason and LeAnne Gendreau
Wednesday, Dec 17, 2014 • Updated at 6:34 PM EST
The town of Cheshire is reeling after a local dad shot and killed his son before taking his own life in their home on Cornwall Avenue, according to a police.
On Wednesday morning, police identified the two as Christopher P. Settembri, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Christopher A. Settembri, both residents of the home at 772 Cornwall Avenue.
The younger Settembri was a recent graduate of Cheshire High School, according to the school system.
Police said investigators discovered the bodies around 4 p.m. Tuesday, and autopsies revealed that both had been dead for hours before authorities were called to the scene.
A neighbor said the elder Settembri was a married father of four and a stay-at-home dad. His wife, who had been unable to reach him by phone, arrived home to discover the scene Tuesday afternoon, but the couple's youngest daughter – still in elementary school – had already discovered the bodies.
"At this point, we don't have any information that would help us to understand why something like this happened," Cheshire police Chief Neil Dryfe said Wednesday. "We have not been able to find a note or any other indication at this time."
Officials said the teen's body was located in a downstairs bedroom. His father was found in an upstairs bathroom, with an apparent self-inflicted wound. Police said both were shot once.
"Since I live around the corner, you just never know," said 19-year-old Cheshire resident Daniel Byrd. "And especially in this town, if you don't know the family, you know someone that knows the family."
The State Police Major Crimes Division is investigating, and the medical examiner's office was been called out to help. #The road was closed near the Doolittle Elementary School at 735 Cornwall Avenue while authorities work to piece together what happened.
"It's a horrible tragedy anytime you have an untimely death, particularly this close to the holidays," Dryfe said.
Cheshire school Supt. Greg J. Florio released a statement saying support services will be available to all members of the school community "as long as they are required."
"The Cheshire Public Schools staff is well trained and has in place plans to address the impact of this type of incident on students and staff. Our plans include reassuring students that school is a safe place and that if they feel anxious or upset in any way that they should speak to their teacher or any adult in the school who will direct them to the appropriate counseling staff," Florio said.
It's the community's second major loss in a week. Nineteen-year-old Isabella Gozzo died in a crash on Route 9 in Berlin when her boyfriend lost control of the car on Saturday.
"A couple of really big things have happened in the past few years to this community," said Kim Liso-Perez, alluding to the Cheshire home invasion that resulted in the murders of a local mom and two daughters. "It's a small community and everybody is pretty close knit, and there's a lot of close family ties. Everybody knows everybody; it's one of those things."
Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER P. SETTEMBRI.
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Police-Investigating-Cheshire-Incident-286001931.html
Father, Son Dead in Cheshire Murder-Suicide
By Ari Mason and LeAnne Gendreau
Wednesday, Dec 17, 2014 • Updated at 6:34 PM EST
The town of Cheshire is reeling after a local dad shot and killed his son before taking his own life in their home on Cornwall Avenue, according to a police.
On Wednesday morning, police identified the two as Christopher P. Settembri, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Christopher A. Settembri, both residents of the home at 772 Cornwall Avenue.
The younger Settembri was a recent graduate of Cheshire High School, according to the school system.
Police said investigators discovered the bodies around 4 p.m. Tuesday, and autopsies revealed that both had been dead for hours before authorities were called to the scene.
A neighbor said the elder Settembri was a married father of four and a stay-at-home dad. His wife, who had been unable to reach him by phone, arrived home to discover the scene Tuesday afternoon, but the couple's youngest daughter – still in elementary school – had already discovered the bodies.
"At this point, we don't have any information that would help us to understand why something like this happened," Cheshire police Chief Neil Dryfe said Wednesday. "We have not been able to find a note or any other indication at this time."
Officials said the teen's body was located in a downstairs bedroom. His father was found in an upstairs bathroom, with an apparent self-inflicted wound. Police said both were shot once.
"Since I live around the corner, you just never know," said 19-year-old Cheshire resident Daniel Byrd. "And especially in this town, if you don't know the family, you know someone that knows the family."
The State Police Major Crimes Division is investigating, and the medical examiner's office was been called out to help. #The road was closed near the Doolittle Elementary School at 735 Cornwall Avenue while authorities work to piece together what happened.
"It's a horrible tragedy anytime you have an untimely death, particularly this close to the holidays," Dryfe said.
Cheshire school Supt. Greg J. Florio released a statement saying support services will be available to all members of the school community "as long as they are required."
"The Cheshire Public Schools staff is well trained and has in place plans to address the impact of this type of incident on students and staff. Our plans include reassuring students that school is a safe place and that if they feel anxious or upset in any way that they should speak to their teacher or any adult in the school who will direct them to the appropriate counseling staff," Florio said.
It's the community's second major loss in a week. Nineteen-year-old Isabella Gozzo died in a crash on Route 9 in Berlin when her boyfriend lost control of the car on Saturday.
"A couple of really big things have happened in the past few years to this community," said Kim Liso-Perez, alluding to the Cheshire home invasion that resulted in the murders of a local mom and two daughters. "It's a small community and everybody is pretty close knit, and there's a lot of close family ties. Everybody knows everybody; it's one of those things."
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
DA: 8-year-old girld died of "homicidal violence" during Dad's sexual assault (Mobile, Alabama)
As far as I can tell from a quick perusal of the Internet, HIAWATHA ROBINSON was a non-custodial father with a history of domestic violence and other criminal activity. The child apparently lived with her mother, but visited her father. I have not been able to determine if the father's access was court-ordered.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2014/12/hiawayi_robinson_died_during_s.html
Hiawayi Robinson died during sexual assault by father, Hiawatha Robinson, Mobile DA says
By Theresa Seiger
on December 16, 2014 at 5:08 PM, updated December 16, 2014 at 9:46 PM
MOBILE, Alabama -- Hiawayi Robinson, the 8-year-old Prichard girl found dead behind an abandoned building in September, died of "homicidal violence" at the hands of her father, Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said at a news conference on Tuesday.
#Authorities arrested 38-year-old Hiawatha Robinson on charges of first-degree sodomy and murder on Tuesday afternoon. If convicted, Hiawatha Robinson faces 10 to 99 years or life in prison for each charge, Rich said.
#"The facts will show that while engaging in sodomy in the first degree, Hiawatha Robinson Jr. caused the death of Hiawayi Robinson," she said.
#Under Alabama law a person may face charges of first-degree sodomy if he or she engages in "deviant sexual intercourse" with a person less than 12 years old.
"Deviant sexual intercourse is defined in the law of the state of Alabama as sexual gratification involving the sexual organs of one person and the mouth or the anus of another person," Rich said. She declined to comment on whether abuse of the child by her father had been ongoing.
Hiawatha Robinson will appear in Mobile County District Court at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday for a bond hearing. Rich said prosecutors will ask he be held without bond.
On Tuesday evening he remained under protective custody in Mobile County Metro Jail. #Robinson has spoken with authorities, although Rich declined to share his comments or elaborate on what authorities seized when they searched his home in October. His girlfriend's home was also searched. The warrants have been sealed.
"It was not a simple investigation," Rich said. "It was a collective effort and it took a significant amount of time."
Authorities with Prichard police, the FBI and the State Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest exactly three months after family members reported Hiawayi Robinson missing.
"This case resonated within this community when we saw a precious little girl who was missing from her very own home," Rich said. "This arrest is very important today because we have closure, in that we have a person who is in custody today charged in this crime."
Prichard Mayor Troy Ephriam said the arrest brought some measure of relief but hurt others. Knowing Hiawayi's father was responsible for his daughter's death "really hurts all over again," because of their relationship, he said. #Federal investigators said they were still evaluating to determine whether any federal charges would be filed against Hiawatha Robinson.
Rich did not expect any additional arrests in the case. She said grand jurors would later have the opportunity to review the case and determine whether the charges against Hiawatha Robinson are appropriate.
She did not anticipate the charges to be upgraded to capital murder, sparing Hiawatha Robinson from the potential of facing the death penalty.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2014/12/hiawayi_robinson_died_during_s.html
Hiawayi Robinson died during sexual assault by father, Hiawatha Robinson, Mobile DA says
By Theresa Seiger
on December 16, 2014 at 5:08 PM, updated December 16, 2014 at 9:46 PM
MOBILE, Alabama -- Hiawayi Robinson, the 8-year-old Prichard girl found dead behind an abandoned building in September, died of "homicidal violence" at the hands of her father, Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said at a news conference on Tuesday.
#Authorities arrested 38-year-old Hiawatha Robinson on charges of first-degree sodomy and murder on Tuesday afternoon. If convicted, Hiawatha Robinson faces 10 to 99 years or life in prison for each charge, Rich said.
#"The facts will show that while engaging in sodomy in the first degree, Hiawatha Robinson Jr. caused the death of Hiawayi Robinson," she said.
#Under Alabama law a person may face charges of first-degree sodomy if he or she engages in "deviant sexual intercourse" with a person less than 12 years old.
"Deviant sexual intercourse is defined in the law of the state of Alabama as sexual gratification involving the sexual organs of one person and the mouth or the anus of another person," Rich said. She declined to comment on whether abuse of the child by her father had been ongoing.
Hiawatha Robinson will appear in Mobile County District Court at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday for a bond hearing. Rich said prosecutors will ask he be held without bond.
On Tuesday evening he remained under protective custody in Mobile County Metro Jail. #Robinson has spoken with authorities, although Rich declined to share his comments or elaborate on what authorities seized when they searched his home in October. His girlfriend's home was also searched. The warrants have been sealed.
"It was not a simple investigation," Rich said. "It was a collective effort and it took a significant amount of time."
Authorities with Prichard police, the FBI and the State Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest exactly three months after family members reported Hiawayi Robinson missing.
"This case resonated within this community when we saw a precious little girl who was missing from her very own home," Rich said. "This arrest is very important today because we have closure, in that we have a person who is in custody today charged in this crime."
Prichard Mayor Troy Ephriam said the arrest brought some measure of relief but hurt others. Knowing Hiawayi's father was responsible for his daughter's death "really hurts all over again," because of their relationship, he said. #Federal investigators said they were still evaluating to determine whether any federal charges would be filed against Hiawatha Robinson.
Rich did not expect any additional arrests in the case. She said grand jurors would later have the opportunity to review the case and determine whether the charges against Hiawatha Robinson are appropriate.
She did not anticipate the charges to be upgraded to capital murder, sparing Hiawatha Robinson from the potential of facing the death penalty.
Dad who had just gained "physical custody" pleads not guilty to murdering 7-month-old son; had taken custody just ten days before baby's beating death (Oceanside, California)
The latest edition to the California Killer Dads and Custody list.
So from what I understand, the mother was forced to do "shared custody" with a baby, and then lost "physical custody" to this POS. Within ten days, the POS had killed the baby, beaten him to death.
Who the hell gave this father custody? How much you want to bet he had a prior criminal record or history of violence/abuse that was neatly ignored?
Somebody in authority gave this father the green light to kill an infant, and those people need to start being held responsible. They have bloody hands too.
Dad is identified as STANFORD MOROCHO.
http://www.seasidecourier.com/news/father-held-on-m-bail-in-death-of-baby-son/article_6452ca00-858b-11e4-bff3-cfa6ab37c123.html
Father held on $5M bail in death of baby son
Posted: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 5:24 pm
City News Service
A man accused of inflicting injuries on his 7-month-old son that led to the infant's death pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and assault charges.
Stanford Morocho, 22, was ordered held on $5 million bail. Deputy District Attorney Ryan Saunders told Judge Martin Staven that Morocho shared custody of the victim with the child's mother, with whom the defendant no longer has a relationship.
Morocho took physical custody of the baby on Dec. 2. and by the morning of Dec. 12, the child was dead, according to Saunders.
During that time frame, the defendant allegedly inflicted various forms of physical abuse on the baby, Saunders told the judge.
As a result of the defendant's alleged abuse, his son suffered significant bruising throughout his body and face, a skull fracture, rib fractures and internal bleeding, according to the prosecutor.
Morocho was arrested Friday after the baby was pronounced dead at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.
During an interview with detectives, Morocho allegedly made incriminating statements about the case, according to Oceanside police Lt. Sean Marchand.
Morocho will be back in court Dec. 26 for a readiness conference and Dec. 31 for a preliminary hearing. He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
So from what I understand, the mother was forced to do "shared custody" with a baby, and then lost "physical custody" to this POS. Within ten days, the POS had killed the baby, beaten him to death.
Who the hell gave this father custody? How much you want to bet he had a prior criminal record or history of violence/abuse that was neatly ignored?
Somebody in authority gave this father the green light to kill an infant, and those people need to start being held responsible. They have bloody hands too.
Dad is identified as STANFORD MOROCHO.
http://www.seasidecourier.com/news/father-held-on-m-bail-in-death-of-baby-son/article_6452ca00-858b-11e4-bff3-cfa6ab37c123.html
Father held on $5M bail in death of baby son
Posted: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 5:24 pm
City News Service
A man accused of inflicting injuries on his 7-month-old son that led to the infant's death pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and assault charges.
Stanford Morocho, 22, was ordered held on $5 million bail. Deputy District Attorney Ryan Saunders told Judge Martin Staven that Morocho shared custody of the victim with the child's mother, with whom the defendant no longer has a relationship.
Morocho took physical custody of the baby on Dec. 2. and by the morning of Dec. 12, the child was dead, according to Saunders.
During that time frame, the defendant allegedly inflicted various forms of physical abuse on the baby, Saunders told the judge.
As a result of the defendant's alleged abuse, his son suffered significant bruising throughout his body and face, a skull fracture, rib fractures and internal bleeding, according to the prosecutor.
Morocho was arrested Friday after the baby was pronounced dead at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.
During an interview with detectives, Morocho allegedly made incriminating statements about the case, according to Oceanside police Lt. Sean Marchand.
Morocho will be back in court Dec. 26 for a readiness conference and Dec. 31 for a preliminary hearing. He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Dad had "anger issues" prior to killing of 2-month-old son; had previously abused animals (Indianapolis, Indiana)
He has "anger issue"??? What a useless piece of crap. Kills the baby because he is all pissy that Mom had to work late. Good God....
You know what? Moms with two-month-old babies SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK unless they really want to for some reason. They should be able to take some time off and take care of their babies, and bond with them. And either we need to make paid maternity leave the law of the land and/or force useless crap like this Daddy to quit bitching about how "angry" he is and GET A JOB and support his kids. Guess what? You're a grown up now, @sshole. Act like one.
Is it any surprise that this s***head also tortured cats?
Dad is identified as IAN DEFENDERFER.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/call-6-investigators/dcs-documents-father-had-anger-issues-prior-to-baby-death
DCS documents: Father had anger issues prior to baby death
By: Kara Kenney
Posted: 12:19 PM, Dec 16, 2014
Updated: 8:53 PM, Dec 16, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS - Records show a Greenwood father accused of shaking and killing his 2-month-old baby had no prior history with the Indiana Department of Child Services, Call 6 Investigator Kara Kenney.
Following the October death of Roarak Defenderfer, Kenney requested the Greenwood family's file with DCS.
Ian Defenderfer, 20, is charged with aggravated battery and battery resulting in death of a person.
Sarah Naum, the baby's mother, is not facing any charges.
DCS became involved when Roarak was taken to the hospital Oct. 3 with breathing problems.
According to the DCS family case manager interviews with family members of the baby, Ian Defenderfer had a history of anger issues.
DCS interviewed Brett and Susan Naum, the maternal grandparents of Roarak, who said Defenderfer had abused animals including breaking a cat's leg.
"Susan stated she was afraid this was going to happen," read the DCS documents.
"She didn't want Sarah to leave Ian alone with Roark after the cat incident."
Ian Defenderfer's father told DCS their son had temper tantrums as a teenager, but was excited about the baby.
According to court documents, Defenderfer called 911 that day to report Roarak had stopped breathing.
Medics took the infant to an area hospital before he was airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children.
Defenderfer first confessed to his girlfriend that he shook the baby, according to documents.
Authorities said Defenderfer admitted to police he shook the child the following day.
The child died at the hospital Oct. 5 of blunt force trauma to the head, officials said.
Authorities said the child also had signs of shaken baby syndrome. Defenderfer later admitted to police that he was frustrated and annoyed with the child for crying and was not happy the child's mother had to work late.
Defenderfer is expected in court Jan. 22. His defense attorney has not yet returned a call from Kenney.
You know what? Moms with two-month-old babies SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK unless they really want to for some reason. They should be able to take some time off and take care of their babies, and bond with them. And either we need to make paid maternity leave the law of the land and/or force useless crap like this Daddy to quit bitching about how "angry" he is and GET A JOB and support his kids. Guess what? You're a grown up now, @sshole. Act like one.
Is it any surprise that this s***head also tortured cats?
Dad is identified as IAN DEFENDERFER.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/call-6-investigators/dcs-documents-father-had-anger-issues-prior-to-baby-death
DCS documents: Father had anger issues prior to baby death
By: Kara Kenney
Posted: 12:19 PM, Dec 16, 2014
Updated: 8:53 PM, Dec 16, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS - Records show a Greenwood father accused of shaking and killing his 2-month-old baby had no prior history with the Indiana Department of Child Services, Call 6 Investigator Kara Kenney.
Following the October death of Roarak Defenderfer, Kenney requested the Greenwood family's file with DCS.
Ian Defenderfer, 20, is charged with aggravated battery and battery resulting in death of a person.
Sarah Naum, the baby's mother, is not facing any charges.
DCS became involved when Roarak was taken to the hospital Oct. 3 with breathing problems.
According to the DCS family case manager interviews with family members of the baby, Ian Defenderfer had a history of anger issues.
DCS interviewed Brett and Susan Naum, the maternal grandparents of Roarak, who said Defenderfer had abused animals including breaking a cat's leg.
"Susan stated she was afraid this was going to happen," read the DCS documents.
"She didn't want Sarah to leave Ian alone with Roark after the cat incident."
Ian Defenderfer's father told DCS their son had temper tantrums as a teenager, but was excited about the baby.
According to court documents, Defenderfer called 911 that day to report Roarak had stopped breathing.
Medics took the infant to an area hospital before he was airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children.
Defenderfer first confessed to his girlfriend that he shook the baby, according to documents.
Authorities said Defenderfer admitted to police he shook the child the following day.
The child died at the hospital Oct. 5 of blunt force trauma to the head, officials said.
Authorities said the child also had signs of shaken baby syndrome. Defenderfer later admitted to police that he was frustrated and annoyed with the child for crying and was not happy the child's mother had to work late.
Defenderfer is expected in court Jan. 22. His defense attorney has not yet returned a call from Kenney.
Dad convicted of aggravated manslaughter in death of 8-week-old son (Sanford, Florida)
These dads who kill their babies always seem to get off with reduced charges and sentences--assuming they are every charged and convicted to start with.
More proof that the legal system considers women and children "lesser than."
Dad is identified as JOSHUA STEWART.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-joshua-stuart-shaken-baby-sentence-20141216-story.html
Seminole County man sentenced to 20 years for shaking baby to death
By Rene Stutzman, Staff Writer
December 16, 2014, 7:07 PM
SANFORD – A judge on Tuesday sentenced a Seminole County man to 20 years in prison for shaking his 8-week-old son to death.
Tiny Eli Heath was found limp and not breathing July 11, 2013, and was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with head and neck injuries, according to authorities.
He died there seven days later. His father, Joshua Stuart, 27, was charged with first-degree murder, but on Oct. 30, pleaded no contest to a lesser charge - aggravated manslaughter.
On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
More proof that the legal system considers women and children "lesser than."
Dad is identified as JOSHUA STEWART.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-joshua-stuart-shaken-baby-sentence-20141216-story.html
Seminole County man sentenced to 20 years for shaking baby to death
By Rene Stutzman, Staff Writer
December 16, 2014, 7:07 PM
SANFORD – A judge on Tuesday sentenced a Seminole County man to 20 years in prison for shaking his 8-week-old son to death.
Tiny Eli Heath was found limp and not breathing July 11, 2013, and was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with head and neck injuries, according to authorities.
He died there seven days later. His father, Joshua Stuart, 27, was charged with first-degree murder, but on Oct. 30, pleaded no contest to a lesser charge - aggravated manslaughter.
On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
Dad pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter of 2-month-old son; claims baby's death was an "accident" from his PTSD (Lowell, Massachusetts)
Mom is right. Dad CHRISTOPHER BERRY's excuses are bull. This was no "accident" on his part.
I know lots of mothers with PTSD from years of ongoing abuse and trauma, and they don't kill the kids, "accidentally" or otherwise. In fact, they're still trying to do their best to protect them.
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/27632833/lowell-father-to-change-plea-in-shaken-baby-death
Lowell father pleads guilty in son's shaken-baby death
Posted: Dec 15, 2014 3:55 PM EST Updated: Dec 15, 2014 5:11 PM EST
LOWELL, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- An Army veteran from Lowell faced a judge Monday entering a guilty plea in the May, 2013 shaking death of his 2-month-old son.
"I am here today because I accidentally killed my son, William," Christopher Berry said as he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Monday.
He originally pleaded not guilty to second degree murder, but changed his plea once the charge was reduced. Prosecutors say Berry shook his son William to death after getting frustrated with the boy's crying.
"He was a beautiful baby. I saw him come into this world and I got to see him leave this world," said Lisa Cupan, William Berry's maternal grandmother.
Lisa Cupan and her daughter Sarah Cupan read victim impact statements in court Monday.
"No one should have to go through that. Especially my mother. She shouldn't have had to gone through that. And my sister. They're broken. That's a baby," Sarah Cupan said.
Berry served with the Army National Guard from 2008 to 201, and did one tour of duty in Afghanistan.His unit was attacked by a suicide bomber in 2011, and he's been treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder since returning home.
Lisa and Sarah Cupan say they just don't believe William's death was an accident.
"People have PTSD, and they don't kill babies," Lisa said.
"That's bull. It wasn't an accident," Sarah Cupan said. "Did you hear him? He was said it was an accident. No."
He was sentenced to 12 to 16 years in prison, a sentence William's grandmother says isn't long enough
"Change the law," Lisa said. "Take a life, get life."
I know lots of mothers with PTSD from years of ongoing abuse and trauma, and they don't kill the kids, "accidentally" or otherwise. In fact, they're still trying to do their best to protect them.
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/27632833/lowell-father-to-change-plea-in-shaken-baby-death
Lowell father pleads guilty in son's shaken-baby death
Posted: Dec 15, 2014 3:55 PM EST Updated: Dec 15, 2014 5:11 PM EST
LOWELL, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- An Army veteran from Lowell faced a judge Monday entering a guilty plea in the May, 2013 shaking death of his 2-month-old son.
"I am here today because I accidentally killed my son, William," Christopher Berry said as he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Monday.
He originally pleaded not guilty to second degree murder, but changed his plea once the charge was reduced. Prosecutors say Berry shook his son William to death after getting frustrated with the boy's crying.
"He was a beautiful baby. I saw him come into this world and I got to see him leave this world," said Lisa Cupan, William Berry's maternal grandmother.
Lisa Cupan and her daughter Sarah Cupan read victim impact statements in court Monday.
"No one should have to go through that. Especially my mother. She shouldn't have had to gone through that. And my sister. They're broken. That's a baby," Sarah Cupan said.
Berry served with the Army National Guard from 2008 to 201, and did one tour of duty in Afghanistan.His unit was attacked by a suicide bomber in 2011, and he's been treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder since returning home.
Lisa and Sarah Cupan say they just don't believe William's death was an accident.
"People have PTSD, and they don't kill babies," Lisa said.
"That's bull. It wasn't an accident," Sarah Cupan said. "Did you hear him? He was said it was an accident. No."
He was sentenced to 12 to 16 years in prison, a sentence William's grandmother says isn't long enough
"Change the law," Lisa said. "Take a life, get life."
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Dad charged with reckless homicide in death of 4-month-old daughter (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
Dad is identified as QUEONDRAI LEONDARUS. No word on what happened to the mother.
http://www.wqow.com/story/27631777/father-charged-in-death-of-4-month-old
Father charged in death of 4-month-old
Posted: Dec 15, 2014 1:40 PM EST Updated: Dec 15, 2014 9:25 PM EST
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Green Bay police say a 20-year-old man is charged with the death of his infant daughter.
Queondrai Leondarus (KWEN'-dray lee-on-DAYR'-us) Farris is facing two felony counts - first-degree reckless homicide and reckless child abuse in the death of 4-month-old Aesana Farris last summer.
WLUK-TV reports police and paramedics were called to a home June 25 and found the lifeless child. An autopsy showed she had died of "compressional asphyxia." Farris says he was trying to keep the baby quiet and held her head to his chest. A complaint says he told investigators the death was an accident.
According to Press-Gazette Media, Green Bay police say Farris, who is listed as homeless, was arrested Friday in Milwaukee after he was charged that day in Brown County.
http://www.wqow.com/story/27631777/father-charged-in-death-of-4-month-old
Father charged in death of 4-month-old
Posted: Dec 15, 2014 1:40 PM EST Updated: Dec 15, 2014 9:25 PM EST
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Green Bay police say a 20-year-old man is charged with the death of his infant daughter.
Queondrai Leondarus (KWEN'-dray lee-on-DAYR'-us) Farris is facing two felony counts - first-degree reckless homicide and reckless child abuse in the death of 4-month-old Aesana Farris last summer.
WLUK-TV reports police and paramedics were called to a home June 25 and found the lifeless child. An autopsy showed she had died of "compressional asphyxia." Farris says he was trying to keep the baby quiet and held her head to his chest. A complaint says he told investigators the death was an accident.
According to Press-Gazette Media, Green Bay police say Farris, who is listed as homeless, was arrested Friday in Milwaukee after he was charged that day in Brown County.
Dad charged with sodomy and murder of 8-year-old daughter (Mobile County,
Dad is identified as HIAWATHA ROBINSON JR.
http://lagniappemobile.com/breaking-hiawayi-robinsons-father-arrested-charged-daughters-murder/
BREAKING: Hiawayi Robinson’s father arrested, charged in daughter’s murder
By: Jason Johnson | 4 hours ago
Hiawatha Robinson Jr., the father of slain 8-year-old Hiawayi Robinson, has been arrested just before 1 p.m. today and charged with sodomy and murder in connection to his daughter’s death, according to Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich.
Hiawayi Robinson was reported missing nearly 13 weeks ago and was found murdered Sept. 18 by law enforcement in a rural area near Rebel Road in Prichard.
Several rumors began circulating about the case when police issued search warrants for Robinson and his girlfriend Taisheira “Tasha” Parker, but until today no arrests had been made in the case.
Most of the case’s details haven’t been disclosed by authorities, but Rich announced there would be a press conference at 4 p.m. today.
Bernard Parrish, who was recently hired as Prichard’s chief of police, will also be making a statement at the press conference.
The case involved law enforcement personnel from the Prichard Police Department, FBI and Mobile County District Attorney’s office.
http://lagniappemobile.com/breaking-hiawayi-robinsons-father-arrested-charged-daughters-murder/
BREAKING: Hiawayi Robinson’s father arrested, charged in daughter’s murder
By: Jason Johnson | 4 hours ago
Hiawatha Robinson Jr., the father of slain 8-year-old Hiawayi Robinson, has been arrested just before 1 p.m. today and charged with sodomy and murder in connection to his daughter’s death, according to Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich.
Hiawayi Robinson was reported missing nearly 13 weeks ago and was found murdered Sept. 18 by law enforcement in a rural area near Rebel Road in Prichard.
Several rumors began circulating about the case when police issued search warrants for Robinson and his girlfriend Taisheira “Tasha” Parker, but until today no arrests had been made in the case.
Most of the case’s details haven’t been disclosed by authorities, but Rich announced there would be a press conference at 4 p.m. today.
Bernard Parrish, who was recently hired as Prichard’s chief of police, will also be making a statement at the press conference.
The case involved law enforcement personnel from the Prichard Police Department, FBI and Mobile County District Attorney’s office.
Kids most often die at the hands of male caregivers, half of whom are dads; mom living alone at no increased risk of abuse (New Mexico)
Once in a while, you see the media report the unvarnished truth. And that is that children are at highest risk from male caregivers, half of whom are fathers. Yes, unrelated boyfriends are also a risk factor. But then, low-income families that are often supported by a mom earning minimum wage in the fast-food industry seldom involve marriage. That is NOT to say that the presence of a father in the home offers any magical protection, contrary to FR lies. Notice that single mothers (usually of lower income) with NO MAN in the home do not differ in abuse outcomes from married households which tend to be middle class.
http://www.scsun-news.com/silver_city-news/ci_27136071?source=rss
Better child-care options can help combat fatal child abuse New Mexico children die of abuse often at hands of boyfriends or stepparents
By Lindsey Anderson
Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted: 12/14/2014 03:32:52 PM MST
Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series examining solutions to risk factors for fatal child abuse and neglect in New Mexico.
LAS CRUCES
The remnants of 15-month-old Uriah Vasquez Ordoñez's body arrived at the Office of the Medical Investigator in 19 brown paper bags and a Tupperware container in August 2004.
Sixty-five pieces of the toddler's skull. Nine tooth fragments. Fifteen pieces of vertebral bones. Forty-six rib fragments. Twenty-nine pieces of bones from his arms and legs.
That's all investigators could recover from the site where Freddy Ordoñez burned his son's lifeless body in the desert near Oñate High School on July 30, 2004.
The next morning, Ordoñez, whom police had already arrested for killing his son, led investigators to the site where he cremated the boy's body off Pecan Lane and Porter Drive. Once there, Ordoñez dropped to his knees, made the sign of the cross and prayed.
Ordoñez told investigators he spent hours fanning the fire to cremate his son "for the body to be free," one detective's report states. He described throwing his son's ashes in the air.
Investigators combed through the mixed dirt and ash with screens and shovels, recovering the 164 bone fragments.
Expanding aid
Ordoñez said nothing when LCPD detectives asked how Uriah died. They asked again. "It was stupid," he replied.
Detectives learned Ordoñez was watching Uriah earlier in the week while his girlfriend Cecilia Vasquez, the boy's mother, worked at Subway.
Uriah refused to eat. Ordoñez cuffed Uriah on the head, picked him up by his ears and threw him onto a couch, according to police reports. Vasquez told police Ordoñez had tossed Uriah into a bathtub.
Ordoñez was often rough with Uriah and never believed the boy was his, Vasquez told police.
Being under the care of men who lack emotional attachment or caregivers of either gender who don't understand child development increase the risk of fatal child abuse, according to the National Center for Child Death Review.
Uriah is not the only child to die from abuse or neglect in Southern New Mexico in recent years and whose case mirrored those factors.
There was Isaiah Lawrence Jimenez. Armando Wood. Daniel Medina. Alizandra Jasso. Brianna Lopez.
Their mothers were at work, in jail, asleep or running errands while boyfriends, stepparents or other relatives killed them.
New Mexico has consistently had one of the highest rates of fatal child abuse and neglect in the country in recent years. For four of the past five years, New Mexico has been among the eight states with the highest number of per-capita child abuse and neglect deaths.
In 2010 and 2008, New Mexico had the second and third highest rate of deaths in the country, respectively, with 19 children dying from abuse and neglect in each of those years. #The state is also at the bottom of the pack in child well-being, ranking 49th or 50th on a national Kids Count study the past three years.
There's no cure-all for addressing the complex factors that lead to fatal child abuse, but experts say making quality child care more affordable for families would give them better options than leaving children with unreliable caregivers, like Ordoñez.
Yet full-time care for a child age 4 or younger averages $6,000 to $6,800 each year in New Mexico, or about what it costs for a year's undergraduate tuition at New Mexico State University.
For many families struggling financially, the cost often puts such care out of reach, said Veronica C. Garcia, director of the nonprofit advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Children. Advocates like Garcia want the state to make child care affordable by expanding subsidies for low-income families.
Few studies focus on the risk factors for fatal abuse, but the National Center for Child Death Review, which trains state agencies to review child deaths, lists a lack of suitable child care as one of the major factors putting children at risk of dying from abuse or neglect. Reliable child care ensures a trained caregiver is looking after a child while allowing parents to work or run errands, relieving the burden of social isolation.
Many states with consistently low rates of fatal child abuse and neglect and positive rankings in child well-being offer at least some child-care assistance to families earning double the poverty level. The federal poverty level is currently $15,730 for a family of two, or $23,850 for a family of four.
New Hampshire offers child-care assistance for families making up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. That state ranked fourth in child well-being this year and had a fatal child abuse rate of 0.36 deaths per 1,000 children in 2012. New Mexico's rate was nearly 10 times higher: 3.11 deaths per 1,000 children.
North Dakota, which also ranks low in fatal child abuse and high in child well-being, offers assistance for families making up to nearly three times the federal poverty level.
New Mexico used to offer assistance to families making up to twice the poverty level before state budget cuts in 2010.
Currently, new families can sign up for the program if they earn below 150 percent of the poverty level. If a family receives the subsidy and then their income rises to above 150 percent, they can stay in the program as long as they earn below 200 percent, Children, Youth and Families Department spokesman Henry Varela said.
About 750 families are on a waiting list to receive subsidies, Varela said.
Dangerous caregivers
New Mexico In Depth and the Sun-News examined hundreds of pages of police reports, prison records, autopsy findings and news articles on 15 fatal child abuse and neglect cases in Doña, Luna and Grant counties from 2001 to 2013.
The investigation found many children were fatally injured under the watch of a stepparent, mother's boyfriend, distant relative or a father who doubted whether the child was truly his. Other male caregivers appeared to not understand a child's development, violently punishing young children who wet their pants or shaking babies who wouldn't stop crying.
Two-thirds of the 20 people convicted of killing the children were men. That portion rises even higher if you discount the three women who were convicted of doing nothing to stop others' abuse rather than directly harming their children themselves. Of the adults whose actions directly killed the children, three-quarters were men.
Half of the men in the 15 cases were not related to the children they killed. Two who were fathers, Ordoñez and Andrew Walters, believed the children they killed weren't biologically theirs, according to police reports and then-District Attorney Susana Martinez, whose office prosecuted both cases.
Ordoñez and Vasquez declined requests to speak with NMID and the Sun-News. The details of their and Uriah's story have been gathered from police reports, autopsy findings, prison records and news articles.
After Uriah's death, Vasquez told police Ordoñez never loved the boy. Because she got pregnant with Uriah so quickly — the day Ordoñez was let out of prison — Ordoñez always questioned whether Uriah was his, Vasquez said, according to LCPD reports. Unlike their daughter, the boy didn't look like Ordoñez, she said.
Ordoñez was rough and impatient with Uriah, Vasquez said. She once sent the boy to his grandmother's for a few days, hoping time apart would ease tension. Ordoñez continued to watch Uriah while Vasquez worked.
Garcia, of Voices for Children, wants the state to restore subsidies for all families earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level so more parents can have reliable, certified caregivers watch their children. Even that would fall short of what states like North Dakota and New Hampshire offer families.
CYFD will consider seeking "incremental increases" to income eligibility as the budget allows, Varela said.
'Already gone'
There's no way to know if reliable childcare would have saved Uriah, but being under Ordoñez's watch proved fatal for the toddler.
Vasquez, then 21, went to her job at Subway that Tuesday in July 2004, leaving Uriah and their 2-year-old daughter with Ordoñez.
Ordoñez called Vasquez at work. Something was wrong with Uriah, he said. Come home.
Vasquez planned to head right back to work, but she found Uriah "limp." "His eyes were not focusing on anything," she later told investigators, according to police reports. Bruises covered his ears and his neck. A scrape ran up one of his legs. A bump rose from the back of his head. Uriah couldn't hold himself up. He threw up all night.
Vasquez wanted to take Uriah to the doctor, but Ordoñez refused. He reminded Vasquez of another time doctors said Uriah's vomiting was a symptom of a virus that needed to run its course.
By Thursday, Vasquez thought Uriah seemed better. She returned to work. Ordoñez called again, saying the boy was twitching. Vasquez returned home to find Ordoñez giving Uriah CPR.
She urged him to call 911 but he refused, saying they would get in trouble if they took the baby to the hospital with bruises. She tried to call several times but Ordoñez hid the phone.
"He kept telling her that he was already gone, there was nothing that could be done and they couldn't call the cops," the LCPD report says. "She said he told her Uriah was their son and they could bury him the way they wanted to, they didn't need anyone to tell them what to do."
Vasquez's boss later told investigators Ordoñez had previously physically abused Vasquez, according to a police report.
Vasquez lay with Uriah and tried to comfort him as he struggled to breathe. His breaths grew further and further apart, then stopped.
Children at risk
Other deaths of southern New Mexico children illustrate the dangers of leaving kids with unreliable caregivers.
George Trujillo apparently shook his cousin's son, 21-month-old Armando Wood, and lifted him by his chin while watching the boy in 2008, according to news reports. The autopsy found blunt force injuries to the child's head and scrapes on his neck and face. Trujillo was sentenced to three years in prison and has since been released.
Isaiah Lawrence Jimenez wouldn't stop crying one night in 2009, according to sheriff's reports. His aunt's boyfriend, Daniel Holguin, tossed him in the air, caught him by a leg, spanked him and suffocated him, Holguin's daughter later told investigators. Holguin was watching the 4-month-old while his girlfriend worked. Isaiah's mother was in jail. Holguin was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Six-month-old Daniel Medina died in 2009 while under the watch of his 22-year-old step-grandfather, Alfredo Luis Davila, who had married the baby's 38-year-old grandmother. Davila said the baby fell, but medical investigators found head injuries inconsistent with a fall and ruled his death a homicide, according to sheriff's and autopsy reports. Though charged in Daniel's death, Davila fled while out on bond and is still a fugitive.
#Several studies have found children living with unrelated adults are more likely to die from child abuse injuries than children living with two biological parents. One study found that risk to be 50 times higher for children living with unrelated adults. Children living only with their mother faced no increased risk, study co-author Patricia Schnitzer, said.
Evolutionary biologists call it the "Cinderella effect," a controversial theory that care-giving animals focus their time and effort on their biological children rather than the offspring of "reproductive rivals," ensuring the parents' own survival and successful reproduction, according to one study on the topic.
Schnitzer hasn't researched why children living with non-biological adults are at greater risk than others, but she expects it's more complicated than the Cinderella effect.
Children killed from abuse and neglect are often under a year old, said Schnitzer, a registered nurse and University of Missouri professor who researches child abuse and neglect. The mother is not with the biological father and maybe has another man as her boyfriend, Schnitzer said.
"The way I think about them is households in chaos, that have a lot of social and financial stressors " she said. "And that puts them at risk of a lot of things, including child abuse."
Not all male caregivers who killed children in southern New Mexico in recent years were unrelated to the children or doubted their paternity. Half were the children's fathers.
They include Michael Cuhen, then 21, who put his son to sleep on a bed without rails and awoke to find the child burned to death against a nearby space heater. And Robert Flores, then 23, who left his 4-month-old daughter Kalynne in a laundry basket with unfolded clothes while he went to the store to buy beer. She suffocated to death. Flores is out of prison pending appeal.
Not the end
Then there is Ordoñez.
After Uriah took his last breaths, the boy's parents laid the baby in his crib and covered him with a blanket. Then they got into their car with their young daughter, drove to the store and bought Smirnoff vodka, drinking and driving around town. They stopped at two other stores to buy beer. Vasquez "just started chugging them, not knowing what else to do," a police report states. They also smoked marijuana.
Vasquez later went to sleep on the couch in their living room. Uriah's body lay in his crib in the bedroom. She didn't want to see it.
She awoke at 6 a.m. to find Ordoñez and Uriah gone.
Ordoñez returned later, smelling of smoke. He told Vasquez to pack clothes; they were leaving for Mexico. Police officers stopped by the house. Vasquez's boss had called to report a domestic dispute after Vasquez had called her, worried. Ordoñez threatened to kill Vasquez and their daughter if she responded to the officers, according to the police report. The police left without making contact with the family.
Ordoñez and Vasquez tossed belongings into dumpsters around the city before stopping at a motel on Picacho Avenue. There, Ordoñez saw police officers and ran. They caught and arrested him, though the reason for his arrest isn't clear in police reports.
No one would know of Uriah's death until Vasquez went to her boss' home after Ordoñez's arrest. Vasquez arrived at the house trembling and crying, saying she thought her baby was dead or injured. Her boss called police to report the child missing.
Medical investigators couldn't determine the cause of Uriah's death because so few pieces of his body remained. They ruled it a homicide based on Ordoñez's and Vasquez's statements and their decision to not seek medical help for the boy.
A judge in 2006 sentenced Ordoñez to 22 years in prison for child abuse resulting in death and Vasquez to 18 years for the same charge. He's scheduled to be released in 2024 with credit for good time served. She's scheduled to be released in 2019.
Despite New Mexico increasing penalties for child killers more than a decade ago in response to deaths like Uriah's, the tide of children dying from abuse and neglect hasn't ended. After Uriah's death in 2004, four more children died under the watch of abusive caregivers over the next five years in Doña Ana County alone.
This article was produced in partnership with New Mexico In Depth. Find NMID online at nmindepth.com. Lindsey Anderson can be reached at 915-546-6345.
http://www.scsun-news.com/silver_city-news/ci_27136071?source=rss
Better child-care options can help combat fatal child abuse New Mexico children die of abuse often at hands of boyfriends or stepparents
By Lindsey Anderson
Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted: 12/14/2014 03:32:52 PM MST
Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series examining solutions to risk factors for fatal child abuse and neglect in New Mexico.
LAS CRUCES
The remnants of 15-month-old Uriah Vasquez Ordoñez's body arrived at the Office of the Medical Investigator in 19 brown paper bags and a Tupperware container in August 2004.
Sixty-five pieces of the toddler's skull. Nine tooth fragments. Fifteen pieces of vertebral bones. Forty-six rib fragments. Twenty-nine pieces of bones from his arms and legs.
That's all investigators could recover from the site where Freddy Ordoñez burned his son's lifeless body in the desert near Oñate High School on July 30, 2004.
The next morning, Ordoñez, whom police had already arrested for killing his son, led investigators to the site where he cremated the boy's body off Pecan Lane and Porter Drive. Once there, Ordoñez dropped to his knees, made the sign of the cross and prayed.
Ordoñez told investigators he spent hours fanning the fire to cremate his son "for the body to be free," one detective's report states. He described throwing his son's ashes in the air.
Investigators combed through the mixed dirt and ash with screens and shovels, recovering the 164 bone fragments.
Expanding aid
Ordoñez said nothing when LCPD detectives asked how Uriah died. They asked again. "It was stupid," he replied.
Detectives learned Ordoñez was watching Uriah earlier in the week while his girlfriend Cecilia Vasquez, the boy's mother, worked at Subway.
Uriah refused to eat. Ordoñez cuffed Uriah on the head, picked him up by his ears and threw him onto a couch, according to police reports. Vasquez told police Ordoñez had tossed Uriah into a bathtub.
Ordoñez was often rough with Uriah and never believed the boy was his, Vasquez told police.
Being under the care of men who lack emotional attachment or caregivers of either gender who don't understand child development increase the risk of fatal child abuse, according to the National Center for Child Death Review.
Uriah is not the only child to die from abuse or neglect in Southern New Mexico in recent years and whose case mirrored those factors.
There was Isaiah Lawrence Jimenez. Armando Wood. Daniel Medina. Alizandra Jasso. Brianna Lopez.
Their mothers were at work, in jail, asleep or running errands while boyfriends, stepparents or other relatives killed them.
New Mexico has consistently had one of the highest rates of fatal child abuse and neglect in the country in recent years. For four of the past five years, New Mexico has been among the eight states with the highest number of per-capita child abuse and neglect deaths.
In 2010 and 2008, New Mexico had the second and third highest rate of deaths in the country, respectively, with 19 children dying from abuse and neglect in each of those years. #The state is also at the bottom of the pack in child well-being, ranking 49th or 50th on a national Kids Count study the past three years.
There's no cure-all for addressing the complex factors that lead to fatal child abuse, but experts say making quality child care more affordable for families would give them better options than leaving children with unreliable caregivers, like Ordoñez.
Yet full-time care for a child age 4 or younger averages $6,000 to $6,800 each year in New Mexico, or about what it costs for a year's undergraduate tuition at New Mexico State University.
For many families struggling financially, the cost often puts such care out of reach, said Veronica C. Garcia, director of the nonprofit advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Children. Advocates like Garcia want the state to make child care affordable by expanding subsidies for low-income families.
Few studies focus on the risk factors for fatal abuse, but the National Center for Child Death Review, which trains state agencies to review child deaths, lists a lack of suitable child care as one of the major factors putting children at risk of dying from abuse or neglect. Reliable child care ensures a trained caregiver is looking after a child while allowing parents to work or run errands, relieving the burden of social isolation.
Many states with consistently low rates of fatal child abuse and neglect and positive rankings in child well-being offer at least some child-care assistance to families earning double the poverty level. The federal poverty level is currently $15,730 for a family of two, or $23,850 for a family of four.
New Hampshire offers child-care assistance for families making up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. That state ranked fourth in child well-being this year and had a fatal child abuse rate of 0.36 deaths per 1,000 children in 2012. New Mexico's rate was nearly 10 times higher: 3.11 deaths per 1,000 children.
North Dakota, which also ranks low in fatal child abuse and high in child well-being, offers assistance for families making up to nearly three times the federal poverty level.
New Mexico used to offer assistance to families making up to twice the poverty level before state budget cuts in 2010.
Currently, new families can sign up for the program if they earn below 150 percent of the poverty level. If a family receives the subsidy and then their income rises to above 150 percent, they can stay in the program as long as they earn below 200 percent, Children, Youth and Families Department spokesman Henry Varela said.
About 750 families are on a waiting list to receive subsidies, Varela said.
Dangerous caregivers
New Mexico In Depth and the Sun-News examined hundreds of pages of police reports, prison records, autopsy findings and news articles on 15 fatal child abuse and neglect cases in Doña, Luna and Grant counties from 2001 to 2013.
The investigation found many children were fatally injured under the watch of a stepparent, mother's boyfriend, distant relative or a father who doubted whether the child was truly his. Other male caregivers appeared to not understand a child's development, violently punishing young children who wet their pants or shaking babies who wouldn't stop crying.
Two-thirds of the 20 people convicted of killing the children were men. That portion rises even higher if you discount the three women who were convicted of doing nothing to stop others' abuse rather than directly harming their children themselves. Of the adults whose actions directly killed the children, three-quarters were men.
Half of the men in the 15 cases were not related to the children they killed. Two who were fathers, Ordoñez and Andrew Walters, believed the children they killed weren't biologically theirs, according to police reports and then-District Attorney Susana Martinez, whose office prosecuted both cases.
Ordoñez and Vasquez declined requests to speak with NMID and the Sun-News. The details of their and Uriah's story have been gathered from police reports, autopsy findings, prison records and news articles.
After Uriah's death, Vasquez told police Ordoñez never loved the boy. Because she got pregnant with Uriah so quickly — the day Ordoñez was let out of prison — Ordoñez always questioned whether Uriah was his, Vasquez said, according to LCPD reports. Unlike their daughter, the boy didn't look like Ordoñez, she said.
Ordoñez was rough and impatient with Uriah, Vasquez said. She once sent the boy to his grandmother's for a few days, hoping time apart would ease tension. Ordoñez continued to watch Uriah while Vasquez worked.
Garcia, of Voices for Children, wants the state to restore subsidies for all families earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level so more parents can have reliable, certified caregivers watch their children. Even that would fall short of what states like North Dakota and New Hampshire offer families.
CYFD will consider seeking "incremental increases" to income eligibility as the budget allows, Varela said.
'Already gone'
There's no way to know if reliable childcare would have saved Uriah, but being under Ordoñez's watch proved fatal for the toddler.
Vasquez, then 21, went to her job at Subway that Tuesday in July 2004, leaving Uriah and their 2-year-old daughter with Ordoñez.
Ordoñez called Vasquez at work. Something was wrong with Uriah, he said. Come home.
Vasquez planned to head right back to work, but she found Uriah "limp." "His eyes were not focusing on anything," she later told investigators, according to police reports. Bruises covered his ears and his neck. A scrape ran up one of his legs. A bump rose from the back of his head. Uriah couldn't hold himself up. He threw up all night.
Vasquez wanted to take Uriah to the doctor, but Ordoñez refused. He reminded Vasquez of another time doctors said Uriah's vomiting was a symptom of a virus that needed to run its course.
By Thursday, Vasquez thought Uriah seemed better. She returned to work. Ordoñez called again, saying the boy was twitching. Vasquez returned home to find Ordoñez giving Uriah CPR.
She urged him to call 911 but he refused, saying they would get in trouble if they took the baby to the hospital with bruises. She tried to call several times but Ordoñez hid the phone.
"He kept telling her that he was already gone, there was nothing that could be done and they couldn't call the cops," the LCPD report says. "She said he told her Uriah was their son and they could bury him the way they wanted to, they didn't need anyone to tell them what to do."
Vasquez's boss later told investigators Ordoñez had previously physically abused Vasquez, according to a police report.
Vasquez lay with Uriah and tried to comfort him as he struggled to breathe. His breaths grew further and further apart, then stopped.
Children at risk
Other deaths of southern New Mexico children illustrate the dangers of leaving kids with unreliable caregivers.
George Trujillo apparently shook his cousin's son, 21-month-old Armando Wood, and lifted him by his chin while watching the boy in 2008, according to news reports. The autopsy found blunt force injuries to the child's head and scrapes on his neck and face. Trujillo was sentenced to three years in prison and has since been released.
Isaiah Lawrence Jimenez wouldn't stop crying one night in 2009, according to sheriff's reports. His aunt's boyfriend, Daniel Holguin, tossed him in the air, caught him by a leg, spanked him and suffocated him, Holguin's daughter later told investigators. Holguin was watching the 4-month-old while his girlfriend worked. Isaiah's mother was in jail. Holguin was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Six-month-old Daniel Medina died in 2009 while under the watch of his 22-year-old step-grandfather, Alfredo Luis Davila, who had married the baby's 38-year-old grandmother. Davila said the baby fell, but medical investigators found head injuries inconsistent with a fall and ruled his death a homicide, according to sheriff's and autopsy reports. Though charged in Daniel's death, Davila fled while out on bond and is still a fugitive.
#Several studies have found children living with unrelated adults are more likely to die from child abuse injuries than children living with two biological parents. One study found that risk to be 50 times higher for children living with unrelated adults. Children living only with their mother faced no increased risk, study co-author Patricia Schnitzer, said.
Evolutionary biologists call it the "Cinderella effect," a controversial theory that care-giving animals focus their time and effort on their biological children rather than the offspring of "reproductive rivals," ensuring the parents' own survival and successful reproduction, according to one study on the topic.
Schnitzer hasn't researched why children living with non-biological adults are at greater risk than others, but she expects it's more complicated than the Cinderella effect.
Children killed from abuse and neglect are often under a year old, said Schnitzer, a registered nurse and University of Missouri professor who researches child abuse and neglect. The mother is not with the biological father and maybe has another man as her boyfriend, Schnitzer said.
"The way I think about them is households in chaos, that have a lot of social and financial stressors " she said. "And that puts them at risk of a lot of things, including child abuse."
Not all male caregivers who killed children in southern New Mexico in recent years were unrelated to the children or doubted their paternity. Half were the children's fathers.
They include Michael Cuhen, then 21, who put his son to sleep on a bed without rails and awoke to find the child burned to death against a nearby space heater. And Robert Flores, then 23, who left his 4-month-old daughter Kalynne in a laundry basket with unfolded clothes while he went to the store to buy beer. She suffocated to death. Flores is out of prison pending appeal.
Not the end
Then there is Ordoñez.
After Uriah took his last breaths, the boy's parents laid the baby in his crib and covered him with a blanket. Then they got into their car with their young daughter, drove to the store and bought Smirnoff vodka, drinking and driving around town. They stopped at two other stores to buy beer. Vasquez "just started chugging them, not knowing what else to do," a police report states. They also smoked marijuana.
Vasquez later went to sleep on the couch in their living room. Uriah's body lay in his crib in the bedroom. She didn't want to see it.
She awoke at 6 a.m. to find Ordoñez and Uriah gone.
Ordoñez returned later, smelling of smoke. He told Vasquez to pack clothes; they were leaving for Mexico. Police officers stopped by the house. Vasquez's boss had called to report a domestic dispute after Vasquez had called her, worried. Ordoñez threatened to kill Vasquez and their daughter if she responded to the officers, according to the police report. The police left without making contact with the family.
Ordoñez and Vasquez tossed belongings into dumpsters around the city before stopping at a motel on Picacho Avenue. There, Ordoñez saw police officers and ran. They caught and arrested him, though the reason for his arrest isn't clear in police reports.
No one would know of Uriah's death until Vasquez went to her boss' home after Ordoñez's arrest. Vasquez arrived at the house trembling and crying, saying she thought her baby was dead or injured. Her boss called police to report the child missing.
Medical investigators couldn't determine the cause of Uriah's death because so few pieces of his body remained. They ruled it a homicide based on Ordoñez's and Vasquez's statements and their decision to not seek medical help for the boy.
A judge in 2006 sentenced Ordoñez to 22 years in prison for child abuse resulting in death and Vasquez to 18 years for the same charge. He's scheduled to be released in 2024 with credit for good time served. She's scheduled to be released in 2019.
Despite New Mexico increasing penalties for child killers more than a decade ago in response to deaths like Uriah's, the tide of children dying from abuse and neglect hasn't ended. After Uriah's death in 2004, four more children died under the watch of abusive caregivers over the next five years in Doña Ana County alone.
This article was produced in partnership with New Mexico In Depth. Find NMID online at nmindepth.com. Lindsey Anderson can be reached at 915-546-6345.
PTSD defense for dad charged with killing 2-month-old son for crying (Lowell, Massachusetts)
Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER BERRY.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/12/lowell_father_to_change_plea_in_shaken_baby_death
Lowell father to change plea in shaken-baby death
Monday, December 15, 2014
By: Associated Press
LOWELL — An Army veteran from Lowell is scheduled to appear in court for a change of plea hearing in the shaking death of his 2-month-old son. Christopher Berry is scheduled to appear in court Monday in connection with the May 2013 death of his son, William Berry.
Prosecutors say the 24-year-old Berry shook his son because he was frustrated with the child's crying. The boy died several days after he was taken to the hospital. He had previously pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
The Sun of Lowell reports that Berry's lawyer says in court documents that his client was severely affected by his military deployment to Afghanistan.
Attorney Elliot Savitz said that Berry exhibited a number of bizarre behaviors when he returned home that he blamed on post-traumatic stress disorder.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/12/lowell_father_to_change_plea_in_shaken_baby_death
Lowell father to change plea in shaken-baby death
Monday, December 15, 2014
By: Associated Press
LOWELL — An Army veteran from Lowell is scheduled to appear in court for a change of plea hearing in the shaking death of his 2-month-old son. Christopher Berry is scheduled to appear in court Monday in connection with the May 2013 death of his son, William Berry.
Prosecutors say the 24-year-old Berry shook his son because he was frustrated with the child's crying. The boy died several days after he was taken to the hospital. He had previously pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
The Sun of Lowell reports that Berry's lawyer says in court documents that his client was severely affected by his military deployment to Afghanistan.
Attorney Elliot Savitz said that Berry exhibited a number of bizarre behaviors when he returned home that he blamed on post-traumatic stress disorder.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Dad who chained 7-year-old son to bed because he couldn't "afford" daycare (though he lived in "middle-class neighborhood") gets 30 days in jail (Logan, Utah)
Dad SAMMIE HODGES is obviously custodial though that fact is not mentioned explicitly here. If the mother had resided in the home she probably would have been arrested too. Or at least she would be mentioned. But she's not. In fact, the boy is now in foster care, though I imagine just for the 30 days. Then Daddy will get custody back.
What happened to this child's mother? How did this obviously clueless father get custody?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2875153/Jail-time-Utah-father-chained-son-bed.html#ixzz3M0kombIE
Father who chained his 7-year-old son to a bed while he was at work because he couldn't afford daycare gets 30 days in jail
Sammie Hodges, 29, will serve jail time and community services after his son was found padlocked by his ankle to a bed in June
By Associated Press Published: 17:01 EST, 15 December 2014
| Updated: 18:40 EST, 15 December 2014
A Utah father will serve 30 days in jail and 30 days of house arrest for chaining his 7-year-old son to a bed while he was at work.
State Judge Brandon Maynard insisted on jail time Monday despite a recommendation from prosecutors that 29-year-old Sammie Hodges from Logan only serve house arrest.
The judge said he didn't want to keep father and son apart, though.
'My goal is not to undermine reunification efforts with your son, but rather to reinforce making good parenting decisions,' Maynard said.
Hodges was charged in June with four counts of child abuse and pleaded guilty to one count in November as part of a deal with prosecutors.
His son wasn't injured by a heavy chain padlocked to his ankle in June and had access to snacks, water and a bathroom, police said.
Police acting on a tip found the boy in a middle-class neighborhood in Logan, a city of about 49,000 people 80 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Defense attorney David Perry said Hodges chained the boy to keep him from running around the neighborhood because he couldn't afford day care.
Prosecutor Jacob Gordon said his actions absolutely rose to the level of child abuse, according to The Herald Journal.
'This is an inappropriate way of child care; there is no way around it,' Gordon said.
The unnamed boy is in foster care.
Hodges was also sentenced to 80 hours of community service, and will have to take anger management and parenting classes.
He will be released to go to work during his jail sentence.
Hodges was ordered to report to jail on December 26 after spending the holiday with his son.
What happened to this child's mother? How did this obviously clueless father get custody?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2875153/Jail-time-Utah-father-chained-son-bed.html#ixzz3M0kombIE
Father who chained his 7-year-old son to a bed while he was at work because he couldn't afford daycare gets 30 days in jail
Sammie Hodges, 29, will serve jail time and community services after his son was found padlocked by his ankle to a bed in June
By Associated Press Published: 17:01 EST, 15 December 2014
| Updated: 18:40 EST, 15 December 2014
A Utah father will serve 30 days in jail and 30 days of house arrest for chaining his 7-year-old son to a bed while he was at work.
State Judge Brandon Maynard insisted on jail time Monday despite a recommendation from prosecutors that 29-year-old Sammie Hodges from Logan only serve house arrest.
The judge said he didn't want to keep father and son apart, though.
'My goal is not to undermine reunification efforts with your son, but rather to reinforce making good parenting decisions,' Maynard said.
Hodges was charged in June with four counts of child abuse and pleaded guilty to one count in November as part of a deal with prosecutors.
His son wasn't injured by a heavy chain padlocked to his ankle in June and had access to snacks, water and a bathroom, police said.
Police acting on a tip found the boy in a middle-class neighborhood in Logan, a city of about 49,000 people 80 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Defense attorney David Perry said Hodges chained the boy to keep him from running around the neighborhood because he couldn't afford day care.
Prosecutor Jacob Gordon said his actions absolutely rose to the level of child abuse, according to The Herald Journal.
'This is an inappropriate way of child care; there is no way around it,' Gordon said.
The unnamed boy is in foster care.
Hodges was also sentenced to 80 hours of community service, and will have to take anger management and parenting classes.
He will be released to go to work during his jail sentence.
Hodges was ordered to report to jail on December 26 after spending the holiday with his son.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Dad arrested on suspicion of murder for death of 7-month-old son (Oceanside, California)
Dad is identified as STANFORD MOROCHO.
http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/Babys-death-at-Camp-Pendleton-called-suspicious-285679741.html
Father arrested after baby's death at Camp Pendleton
By City News Service Story
Published: Dec 12, 2014 at 4:57 PM PST
(Story Updated: Dec 12, 2014 at 7:50 PM PST )
OCEANSIDE (CNS) - A 7-month-old boy died of suspicious injuries at a Camp Pendleton hospital Friday, after which his father was arrested on suspicion of killing him, authorities reported.
Medical staffers at Naval Hospital notified Oceanside police about the case shortly before 5:30 a.m., Oceanside Police Department Lt. Sean Marchand said.
Due to the severity of the child's condition, he was transferred to another trauma center, where he was pronounced dead later in the morning.
The exact cause of the infant's death was under investigation.
During an interview with detectives, the child's father, Stanford Morocho, 22, allegedly incriminating statements, Marchand said.
Morocho was booked into county jail in Vista on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/Babys-death-at-Camp-Pendleton-called-suspicious-285679741.html
Father arrested after baby's death at Camp Pendleton
By City News Service Story
Published: Dec 12, 2014 at 4:57 PM PST
(Story Updated: Dec 12, 2014 at 7:50 PM PST )
OCEANSIDE (CNS) - A 7-month-old boy died of suspicious injuries at a Camp Pendleton hospital Friday, after which his father was arrested on suspicion of killing him, authorities reported.
Medical staffers at Naval Hospital notified Oceanside police about the case shortly before 5:30 a.m., Oceanside Police Department Lt. Sean Marchand said.
Due to the severity of the child's condition, he was transferred to another trauma center, where he was pronounced dead later in the morning.
The exact cause of the infant's death was under investigation.
During an interview with detectives, the child's father, Stanford Morocho, 22, allegedly incriminating statements, Marchand said.
Morocho was booked into county jail in Vista on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Dad sexually assaults 5-year-old son (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
UNNAMED DAD
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Man-Sexually-Assaults-5-Year-Old-Son-Inside-Home-Police--285719201.html
Man Sexually Assaults 5-Year-Old Son Inside Home: Police
By David Chang
Police are investigating the sexual assault of a five-year-old boy in Mayfair and they say the child's father is the suspect. (Published Saturday, Dec 13, 2014)
Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 • Updated at 10:47 PM EST
A young boy is in the hospital after he was sexually assaulted by his own father, according to police.
The 5-year-old boy was inside a home on the 7100 block of Akron Street in Philadelphia around 2:23 p.m. when he was sexually assaulted by his 55-year-old father, investigators said.
The boy was taken to St. Christopher’s Hospital for evaluation. Neighbors told NBC10 the boy lives at the home with his father and mother.
"I can't understand why anybody would even want to do that," said John Sharp, one of the neighbors. "That's beyond my grasp. I honestly can't comprehend why anyone does that."
The Special Victims Unit is currently investigating the incident. No arrests have been made at this time. Officials have not yet revealed where the child’s father currently is.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Man-Sexually-Assaults-5-Year-Old-Son-Inside-Home-Police--285719201.html
Man Sexually Assaults 5-Year-Old Son Inside Home: Police
By David Chang
Police are investigating the sexual assault of a five-year-old boy in Mayfair and they say the child's father is the suspect. (Published Saturday, Dec 13, 2014)
Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 • Updated at 10:47 PM EST
A young boy is in the hospital after he was sexually assaulted by his own father, according to police.
The 5-year-old boy was inside a home on the 7100 block of Akron Street in Philadelphia around 2:23 p.m. when he was sexually assaulted by his 55-year-old father, investigators said.
The boy was taken to St. Christopher’s Hospital for evaluation. Neighbors told NBC10 the boy lives at the home with his father and mother.
"I can't understand why anybody would even want to do that," said John Sharp, one of the neighbors. "That's beyond my grasp. I honestly can't comprehend why anyone does that."
The Special Victims Unit is currently investigating the incident. No arrests have been made at this time. Officials have not yet revealed where the child’s father currently is.
Dad "suspected" in brutal murder of 4-year-old son had history of child custody "battles" with boy's mother (Garland, Texas)
Well. Sounds like dad JOSEPH BLOCKER is an unrepentant cold-blooded sociopathic killer...and he formerly challenged the mother for custody. Such a surprise....
Still isn't clarified here whether Dad had full custody, but it sounds like a distinctive possibility.
I seriously doubt Mom assaulted this guy. It would be quite a coincidence that she was just as violent as he was. Sounds like a typical abuser attempt at smearing the mother.
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/12/12/police-dad-unemotional-about-son-found-dead-in-washer/
Police: Dad Unemotional About Son Found Dead In Washer
December 12, 2014 8:20 PM GARLAND
(CBSDFW.COM) – There are new details in the death of a 4-year-old Garland boy, injured inside a washing machine.
Court records reveal the child suffered extensive trauma hours before anyone called 911.
The boy’s father, Joseph Blocker, is a suspect in the murder and has been released from jail. In court records, police claim Blocker showed almost no reaction to his son’s death or his own arrest.
A vigil was held for little Koda Blocker on Friday night. Hours after the gathering candles were still burning at the spot where neighbors came to pray for the 4-year-old. Children laid candles on the driveway as dozens of neighbors gathered outside the boy’s home.
“A little boy’s gone, so we’re praying,” one person said.
Records show that when Blocker called 911 on Tuesday he told the dispatcher that he had found unconscious in the family’s washing machine and was performing CPR.
But when paramedics arrived they found the boy had been dead for hours. Police also saw a pool of blood inside the washer.
In the report one detective wrote that Blocker had “told several different versions of a story” and appeared either “absent of emotion” or appeared to be “manufacturing emotion.”
At one point, Blocker claimed he’d slept undisturbed for four hours, leaving Koda and his 22-month-old sister unsupervised. But a detective says Blocker couldn’t explain how the washer started, or how his son could have tumbled through an entire wash cycle without him noticing.
Police arrested Blocker and charged him with capital murder, but released the 28-year-old from jail Friday pending further investigation.
CBS 11 News found other court records that show Blocker and Koda’s mother spent several years battling over child custody and child support.
Blocker also has an arrest for DWI. According to records in that case, he was taken into custody driving to pick up Koda from daycare.
Koda’s mother has an arrest for assaulting Blocker in front of their son.
Still isn't clarified here whether Dad had full custody, but it sounds like a distinctive possibility.
I seriously doubt Mom assaulted this guy. It would be quite a coincidence that she was just as violent as he was. Sounds like a typical abuser attempt at smearing the mother.
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/12/12/police-dad-unemotional-about-son-found-dead-in-washer/
Police: Dad Unemotional About Son Found Dead In Washer
December 12, 2014 8:20 PM GARLAND
(CBSDFW.COM) – There are new details in the death of a 4-year-old Garland boy, injured inside a washing machine.
Court records reveal the child suffered extensive trauma hours before anyone called 911.
The boy’s father, Joseph Blocker, is a suspect in the murder and has been released from jail. In court records, police claim Blocker showed almost no reaction to his son’s death or his own arrest.
A vigil was held for little Koda Blocker on Friday night. Hours after the gathering candles were still burning at the spot where neighbors came to pray for the 4-year-old. Children laid candles on the driveway as dozens of neighbors gathered outside the boy’s home.
“A little boy’s gone, so we’re praying,” one person said.
Records show that when Blocker called 911 on Tuesday he told the dispatcher that he had found unconscious in the family’s washing machine and was performing CPR.
But when paramedics arrived they found the boy had been dead for hours. Police also saw a pool of blood inside the washer.
In the report one detective wrote that Blocker had “told several different versions of a story” and appeared either “absent of emotion” or appeared to be “manufacturing emotion.”
At one point, Blocker claimed he’d slept undisturbed for four hours, leaving Koda and his 22-month-old sister unsupervised. But a detective says Blocker couldn’t explain how the washer started, or how his son could have tumbled through an entire wash cycle without him noticing.
Police arrested Blocker and charged him with capital murder, but released the 28-year-old from jail Friday pending further investigation.
CBS 11 News found other court records that show Blocker and Koda’s mother spent several years battling over child custody and child support.
Blocker also has an arrest for DWI. According to records in that case, he was taken into custody driving to pick up Koda from daycare.
Koda’s mother has an arrest for assaulting Blocker in front of their son.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Dad arrested for abusing 7-week-old baby; infant has multiple skull fractures (Brooke County, West Virginia)
Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER KINKER.
http://www.wtov9.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wtov_follansbee-father-arrested-child-abuse-case-6778.shtml
Follansbee father arrested in child abuse case
Updated: Thursday, December 11 2014, 05:19 PM EST
BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. – A Follansbee father is in jail and his 7-week-old baby is in bad shape at a Pittsburgh hospital after an alleged child abuse incident.
Christopher Kinker, 21, is facing child abuse charges resulting in injury for what investigators say he did to his own baby. According to the criminal complaint filed with the magistrate, emergency crews were called to Kinker's home on Banfield Avenue last Friday after a call for help for an infant who wasn't breathing. The 7-week old was rushed to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where doctors made a startling discovery.
According to court papers, the child, had "multiple skull fractures and other injuries," including "multiple broken ribs, which were in the process of healing."
The investigator also noted in the complaint that when asked, Kinker admitted to shaking the child's bassinet repeatedly because the baby wouldn't stop crying.
He's being held on $50,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
http://www.wtov9.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wtov_follansbee-father-arrested-child-abuse-case-6778.shtml
Follansbee father arrested in child abuse case
Updated: Thursday, December 11 2014, 05:19 PM EST
BROOKE COUNTY, W.Va. – A Follansbee father is in jail and his 7-week-old baby is in bad shape at a Pittsburgh hospital after an alleged child abuse incident.
Christopher Kinker, 21, is facing child abuse charges resulting in injury for what investigators say he did to his own baby. According to the criminal complaint filed with the magistrate, emergency crews were called to Kinker's home on Banfield Avenue last Friday after a call for help for an infant who wasn't breathing. The 7-week old was rushed to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where doctors made a startling discovery.
According to court papers, the child, had "multiple skull fractures and other injuries," including "multiple broken ribs, which were in the process of healing."
The investigator also noted in the complaint that when asked, Kinker admitted to shaking the child's bassinet repeatedly because the baby wouldn't stop crying.
He's being held on $50,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
SWAT team rescues kids from Dad's freeway standoff drama (San Diego, California)
It appears that dad DANIEL PEREZ murdered the mother of his sons before taking off with them.
Notice the typical misleading language. We're told the "marriage" was "unstable" and "marred by domestic violence." A marriage is a relationship between entities. It isn't a "thing" per se. This is just the typical way we avoid saying DAD was "unstable" and violent. After all, HE was the one who killed a woman and abducted the kids. Not the "marriage." In other words, just away of confusing the issue of agency and who did what to whom.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/27603760/swat-team-rescues-boys-in-freeway-standoff-drama
SWAT team rescues boys in freeway standoff drama
Posted: Dec 11, 2014 9:04 AM EST Updated: Dec 11, 2014 8:45 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Four L.A.-area boys are safe Thursday after their father was taken into custody following a tense standoff along a Santee highway.
Daniel Perez, 43, of Montebello stopped the black 2014 Toyota Camry he was driving in the middle of the eastbound state Route 52 connector road to state Route 67 about 8:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. A standoff ensued until around 9:50 a.m., when two SWAT vehicles pulled up to the front and the back of the Camry and officers in full tactical gear approached the suspect and took him into custody.
Montebello police earlier named Perez a person of interest in the disappearance of his 39-year-old wife, Erica. On Thursday, the L.A. County Coroner's Office confirmed the body found in the trunk of the family car on Wednesday was Erica Perez.
The Perez family was last seen Friday, police said, adding that extended family members described the couple's marriage as unstable and marred by domestic violence. An Amber Alert was issued early Thursday morning for four of the couple's five children.
Sometime around 8 a.m. Thursday, officers pursued Perez from the downtown El Cajon area to state Route 125 to the highway ramp where he stopped. A CHP spokesman said that officers located Perez in the downtown El Cajon area earlier Thursday using the LoJack technology installed on the Camry.
Just before 9 a.m., two of the four young boys got out safely and ran to nearby authorities, but two others remained in the vehicle along with their father until he was taken into custody.
Before the SWAT vehicles pulled up, about a dozen law enforcement cruisers and SUVs stopped behind the black Toyota Camry, which was on an elevated transition roadway. Officers with weapons drawn were just yards from the car.
Perez was talking to law enforcement via cell phone, the CHP said. The CHP reports that during the hour long standoff, Perez was calm and then just suddenly snapped. Also during the standoff, family members in the San Diego area were feeding negotiators information.
Once the suspect's car was blocked in by SWAT vehicles, the standoff quickly came to an end.
"The suspect attempted to jump over the guard rail, was shot with one bean bag nonlethal. Immediately taken to the ground and is in custody. All four boys I saw and talk to them. Seem to be okay physically no injuries. Mentally we don't know how this has affected them,” said Kevin Pearlstein with the CHP. #Officers believe Perez was headed to Mexico.
Perez and his children were transported separately Thursday afternoon to Montebello. The fifth child -- who was not involved in the standoff -- was being cared for by his grandparents.
Notice the typical misleading language. We're told the "marriage" was "unstable" and "marred by domestic violence." A marriage is a relationship between entities. It isn't a "thing" per se. This is just the typical way we avoid saying DAD was "unstable" and violent. After all, HE was the one who killed a woman and abducted the kids. Not the "marriage." In other words, just away of confusing the issue of agency and who did what to whom.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/27603760/swat-team-rescues-boys-in-freeway-standoff-drama
SWAT team rescues boys in freeway standoff drama
Posted: Dec 11, 2014 9:04 AM EST Updated: Dec 11, 2014 8:45 PM EST
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Four L.A.-area boys are safe Thursday after their father was taken into custody following a tense standoff along a Santee highway.
Daniel Perez, 43, of Montebello stopped the black 2014 Toyota Camry he was driving in the middle of the eastbound state Route 52 connector road to state Route 67 about 8:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. A standoff ensued until around 9:50 a.m., when two SWAT vehicles pulled up to the front and the back of the Camry and officers in full tactical gear approached the suspect and took him into custody.
Montebello police earlier named Perez a person of interest in the disappearance of his 39-year-old wife, Erica. On Thursday, the L.A. County Coroner's Office confirmed the body found in the trunk of the family car on Wednesday was Erica Perez.
The Perez family was last seen Friday, police said, adding that extended family members described the couple's marriage as unstable and marred by domestic violence. An Amber Alert was issued early Thursday morning for four of the couple's five children.
Sometime around 8 a.m. Thursday, officers pursued Perez from the downtown El Cajon area to state Route 125 to the highway ramp where he stopped. A CHP spokesman said that officers located Perez in the downtown El Cajon area earlier Thursday using the LoJack technology installed on the Camry.
Just before 9 a.m., two of the four young boys got out safely and ran to nearby authorities, but two others remained in the vehicle along with their father until he was taken into custody.
Before the SWAT vehicles pulled up, about a dozen law enforcement cruisers and SUVs stopped behind the black Toyota Camry, which was on an elevated transition roadway. Officers with weapons drawn were just yards from the car.
Perez was talking to law enforcement via cell phone, the CHP said. The CHP reports that during the hour long standoff, Perez was calm and then just suddenly snapped. Also during the standoff, family members in the San Diego area were feeding negotiators information.
Once the suspect's car was blocked in by SWAT vehicles, the standoff quickly came to an end.
"The suspect attempted to jump over the guard rail, was shot with one bean bag nonlethal. Immediately taken to the ground and is in custody. All four boys I saw and talk to them. Seem to be okay physically no injuries. Mentally we don't know how this has affected them,” said Kevin Pearlstein with the CHP. #Officers believe Perez was headed to Mexico.
Perez and his children were transported separately Thursday afternoon to Montebello. The fifth child -- who was not involved in the standoff -- was being cared for by his grandparents.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Custodial dad charged with capital murder in death of 4-year-old son (Garland, Texas)
It strongly appears that dad JOSEPH BLOCKER was custodial, as the dead boy's mother did not live in the home and was "out of the state" at the time of the boy's murder. At minimum, Dad had shared or joint custody.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Garland-Child-Dead-After-Washing-Machine-Injuries-Father-Arrested-Police-285409311.html
Garland Child Dead After Being Injured in Washing Machine; Father Arrested: Police
By Bianca Castro
A Garland man is charged with capital murder after his 4-year-old son was found dead inside a home Tuesday afternoon.
(Published Wednesday, Dec 10, 2014)
Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 • Updated at 10:34 AM CST
A Garland, Texas, man is charged with capital murder after his 4-year-old son was found dead inside a home Tuesday afternoon.
Police said Joseph Blocker, 28, called 911 Tuesday at about 3:30 p.m. to report his son was unconscious.
When officers arrived to the home in the 2400 block of Newcastle Drive, they said the child was deceased. And investigators believe at some point the boy had been injured inside the home's front-loading washing machine.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office will help determine the cause of death.
Blocker was booked into the Garland Detention Center on a charge of capital murder and his bond was set at $500,000. A friend and former co-worker of Blocker’s told NBC 5 Blocker seemed like a good father, saying, "He always smiled when he talked about [his son]. It seem like he really cared about him."
Two other people live at the home, according to police, including Blocker's 22-month old daughter and that child's mother. The 4-year-old boy's mother did not live with at the home, and police said she was out of the state during the time of her son's death.
Police had no knowledge of any Child Protective Services history with the family.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Garland-Child-Dead-After-Washing-Machine-Injuries-Father-Arrested-Police-285409311.html
Garland Child Dead After Being Injured in Washing Machine; Father Arrested: Police
By Bianca Castro
A Garland man is charged with capital murder after his 4-year-old son was found dead inside a home Tuesday afternoon.
(Published Wednesday, Dec 10, 2014)
Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 • Updated at 10:34 AM CST
A Garland, Texas, man is charged with capital murder after his 4-year-old son was found dead inside a home Tuesday afternoon.
Police said Joseph Blocker, 28, called 911 Tuesday at about 3:30 p.m. to report his son was unconscious.
When officers arrived to the home in the 2400 block of Newcastle Drive, they said the child was deceased. And investigators believe at some point the boy had been injured inside the home's front-loading washing machine.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office will help determine the cause of death.
Blocker was booked into the Garland Detention Center on a charge of capital murder and his bond was set at $500,000. A friend and former co-worker of Blocker’s told NBC 5 Blocker seemed like a good father, saying, "He always smiled when he talked about [his son]. It seem like he really cared about him."
Two other people live at the home, according to police, including Blocker's 22-month old daughter and that child's mother. The 4-year-old boy's mother did not live with at the home, and police said she was out of the state during the time of her son's death.
Police had no knowledge of any Child Protective Services history with the family.
Custodial dad, step convicted of torture, child abuse in starvation, beating of children (San Bernardino, California)
We've posted once on this case before. So far, I have seen no explanation as to how this vicious father got custody, who gave it to him, or what happened to the mother of these children. With a man like this, you got to wonder whatever happened to her, as it's highly likely he dished out the similar torture tactics on her.
Dad is identified as ERIK AUSTIN FLORES.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/12/11/3393279_father-girlfriend-convicted-of.html?rh=1
Father, girlfriend convicted of starving children
The Associated Press
December 11, 2014 Updated 7 hours ago
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A Southern California father and his girlfriend have been found guilty of torture and child abuse for starving two of his children and beating a third.
A San Bernardino County jury convicted 30-year-old Erik Austin Flores and 23-year-old Mariah Rita Sugg of Hesperia on Wednesday. Each faces 20 years to life in prison when they're sentenced next month.
Prosecutors say the 4-year-old and 5-year-old children suffered permanent height loss because of their malnutrition and resembled concentration camp survivors when they were found and taken in by authorities earlier this year.
The third victim who did not starve because he was fed at school testified that Sugg would beat him and his siblings, make them do exercises for hours and make them stand in the corner for entire days.
Dad is identified as ERIK AUSTIN FLORES.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/12/11/3393279_father-girlfriend-convicted-of.html?rh=1
Father, girlfriend convicted of starving children
The Associated Press
December 11, 2014 Updated 7 hours ago
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A Southern California father and his girlfriend have been found guilty of torture and child abuse for starving two of his children and beating a third.
A San Bernardino County jury convicted 30-year-old Erik Austin Flores and 23-year-old Mariah Rita Sugg of Hesperia on Wednesday. Each faces 20 years to life in prison when they're sentenced next month.
Prosecutors say the 4-year-old and 5-year-old children suffered permanent height loss because of their malnutrition and resembled concentration camp survivors when they were found and taken in by authorities earlier this year.
The third victim who did not starve because he was fed at school testified that Sugg would beat him and his siblings, make them do exercises for hours and make them stand in the corner for entire days.
Dad in "nasty custody battle" kills 5-year-old daughter, 9-year-old son in murder-suicide (Los Angeles County, California)
The coverage is very fathers rights-biased. Dad ALAN DEAN EDWARDS wasn't some poor "depressed" victim who "snapped" because he was deprived of his kids.
In reality, Daddy was an control freak abuser with a long history of death threats. If ABC had been consulting the man's OWN DAUGHTER from a previous relationship--instead of the Clueless (male)Neighbor--they would have known this. From the NY Daily News:
Edwards' 17-year-old daughter from a previous relationship told the station, "We all knew he was going to snap eventually," said Jordyn, who asked to be identified by only her first name. "He'd already lost me because of the way he treated me. So it was a power thing for him," she said, fighting back tears.
Her father had threatened her mother in the past, she said, and had said he would kill her and her mother.
So the real question is not why Daddy "snapped" or why he wasn't granted "joint custody" on demand. THE REAL QUESTION IS THIS: WHY WAS AN CONTROLLING ABUSER WHO HAD LOST CONTACT WITH HIS PREVIOUS DAUGHTER DUE TO ABUSE, A FATHER WITH A HISTORY OF DEATH THREATS, ALLOWED ANY CHILD ACCESS AT ALL? Who allowed this? Was this court-ordered? Let's see the names.
http://abc7.com/news/2-kids-man-killed-in-castaic-lake-crash-identified/428513/
Castaic Lake crash possible murder-suicide
A violent crash that left a father and his two children dead on the southbound 5 Freeway near Castaic Lake Monday is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
By Leo Stallworth and ABC7.com staff Tuesday, December 09, 2014 09:36PM
CASTAIC, Calif. (KABC) -- A violent crash that left a father and his two children dead on the southbound 5 Freeway near Castaic Lake Monday is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
Alan Dean Edwards, 46, deliberately killed himself and his two young children, 9-year-old Erick Edwards and 5-year-old Alona Edwards.
Investigators say Edwards entered the Whitaker Brake Check area and slammed his white 1997 Honda Accord into the back of a parked big rig at a high rate of speed at about 1 a.m.
When paramedics arrived, they found the Honda wedged underneath the big rig. Investigators say there were no skid marks on the road.
Edwards' neighbors say he was on the losing end of a nasty custody battle over his children with his estranged wife and was being forced out of his home.
"All what he was going through that possibly made him, made him snap, and to me it seems like an acute case of depression, said neighbor Kevin Parham. "He was on the verge of being homeless, no job, he wanted, I think, joint custody of the kids, that didn't happen."
In reality, Daddy was an control freak abuser with a long history of death threats. If ABC had been consulting the man's OWN DAUGHTER from a previous relationship--instead of the Clueless (male)Neighbor--they would have known this. From the NY Daily News:
Edwards' 17-year-old daughter from a previous relationship told the station, "We all knew he was going to snap eventually," said Jordyn, who asked to be identified by only her first name. "He'd already lost me because of the way he treated me. So it was a power thing for him," she said, fighting back tears.
Her father had threatened her mother in the past, she said, and had said he would kill her and her mother.
So the real question is not why Daddy "snapped" or why he wasn't granted "joint custody" on demand. THE REAL QUESTION IS THIS: WHY WAS AN CONTROLLING ABUSER WHO HAD LOST CONTACT WITH HIS PREVIOUS DAUGHTER DUE TO ABUSE, A FATHER WITH A HISTORY OF DEATH THREATS, ALLOWED ANY CHILD ACCESS AT ALL? Who allowed this? Was this court-ordered? Let's see the names.
http://abc7.com/news/2-kids-man-killed-in-castaic-lake-crash-identified/428513/
Castaic Lake crash possible murder-suicide
A violent crash that left a father and his two children dead on the southbound 5 Freeway near Castaic Lake Monday is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
By Leo Stallworth and ABC7.com staff Tuesday, December 09, 2014 09:36PM
CASTAIC, Calif. (KABC) -- A violent crash that left a father and his two children dead on the southbound 5 Freeway near Castaic Lake Monday is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
Alan Dean Edwards, 46, deliberately killed himself and his two young children, 9-year-old Erick Edwards and 5-year-old Alona Edwards.
Investigators say Edwards entered the Whitaker Brake Check area and slammed his white 1997 Honda Accord into the back of a parked big rig at a high rate of speed at about 1 a.m.
When paramedics arrived, they found the Honda wedged underneath the big rig. Investigators say there were no skid marks on the road.
Edwards' neighbors say he was on the losing end of a nasty custody battle over his children with his estranged wife and was being forced out of his home.
"All what he was going through that possibly made him, made him snap, and to me it seems like an acute case of depression, said neighbor Kevin Parham. "He was on the verge of being homeless, no job, he wanted, I think, joint custody of the kids, that didn't happen."
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Dad used hot iron to torture kids, including 3-month-old baby (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
This is what institutionalized fathers rights looks like, folks, Even though Mom is employed and Dad is a deadbeat torture freak, she KNOWS he would still get custody in the event of a divorce. Women (and by extension, mothers) have virtually no rights in Saudi Arabia and are under the thumb of a male guardian for their entire lives. One result is the rampant abuse of children as violent men gain free rein to terrorize women and children all they want.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/family-tragedy-in-saudi-arabia-as-nine-siblings-tortured-1.1424288
Family tragedy in Saudi Arabia as nine siblings ‘tortured’
Father said to have used iron to burn children, including three-month-old baby
By Habib ToumiBureau Chief Published: 15:05 December 9, 2014
Gulf News
Manama: Nine siblings, aged between three months and 18 years, were reportedly tortured by their father over the disappearance of 100 riyals (Dh87) from their home in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
The father is said to have used a hot iron to punish his children, including his recently born daughter, by burning their legs and feet.
The case was discovered by the high school where the eldest daughter was enrolled as a student.
The school principal noticed she was walking barefoot in the school and wanted to know why.
The student said she could not put on her shoes because of the pain she was suffering from the burns inflicted by her father.
Encouraged by the principal to speak out, the daughter revealed how her father abused her and her siblings and how he had tortured them with a hot iron since Wednesday when he could not find the 100 riyals, local daily Okaz reported on Tuesday.
The torture included the three-month baby, the daughter said. The principal alerted the Social Protection care home in Jeddah, prompting its specialists to decide to provide psychological and social support for the siblings who were referred to King Fahd Hospital for check-ups.
The investigation launched by the Social Protection discovered that the children’s mother worked at a school for 3,000 riyals a month and did not stand up to her husband for fear of a divorce that would split up the family.
The children’s father is unemployed and receives monthly assistance from the social solidarity programme.
Social Protection officials said that they would provide temporary accommodation for the siblings before they move them to a flat while the procedures to protect them follow their course with the authorities.
The oldest daughter said that she would rather live with her mother and not with her father, accusing him of being violent with her and her brothers and sisters.
Other sisters said that they had suffered physically as well as academically from their father’s brutality, stressing that their grades at school were low.
Salah Al Ghamdi, the head of Social Protection in Jeddah, confirmed the facts and said that they would meet the father to hear his version before the case is referred to the relevant authorities.
Social authorities, doctors and activists have been pushing for years for appropriate formal action to protect children in Saudi Arabia from domestic violence and school bullying.
Their efforts recently received increased attention as the issue of child abuse came under the spotlight following repeated media reports about children subjected to horrific abuse often by members of their immediate families.
A social activist said that Saudi Arabia recorded 206 cases of violence against children. #“According to the figures, 60 per cent of the cases were abuses while 20 per cent were physical violence,” said Maha Al Muneef, the executive director of the National Family Safety Programme (NFSP). “The remaining 20 per cent were negligence and mental and psychological abuses.”
The 2012 case of a man who tortured his daughter to death sparked widespread outrage and triggered a huge debate over the extent of family privacy, a highly valued concept in conservative circles.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/family-tragedy-in-saudi-arabia-as-nine-siblings-tortured-1.1424288
Family tragedy in Saudi Arabia as nine siblings ‘tortured’
Father said to have used iron to burn children, including three-month-old baby
By Habib ToumiBureau Chief Published: 15:05 December 9, 2014
Gulf News
Manama: Nine siblings, aged between three months and 18 years, were reportedly tortured by their father over the disappearance of 100 riyals (Dh87) from their home in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.
The father is said to have used a hot iron to punish his children, including his recently born daughter, by burning their legs and feet.
The case was discovered by the high school where the eldest daughter was enrolled as a student.
The school principal noticed she was walking barefoot in the school and wanted to know why.
The student said she could not put on her shoes because of the pain she was suffering from the burns inflicted by her father.
Encouraged by the principal to speak out, the daughter revealed how her father abused her and her siblings and how he had tortured them with a hot iron since Wednesday when he could not find the 100 riyals, local daily Okaz reported on Tuesday.
The torture included the three-month baby, the daughter said. The principal alerted the Social Protection care home in Jeddah, prompting its specialists to decide to provide psychological and social support for the siblings who were referred to King Fahd Hospital for check-ups.
The investigation launched by the Social Protection discovered that the children’s mother worked at a school for 3,000 riyals a month and did not stand up to her husband for fear of a divorce that would split up the family.
The children’s father is unemployed and receives monthly assistance from the social solidarity programme.
Social Protection officials said that they would provide temporary accommodation for the siblings before they move them to a flat while the procedures to protect them follow their course with the authorities.
The oldest daughter said that she would rather live with her mother and not with her father, accusing him of being violent with her and her brothers and sisters.
Other sisters said that they had suffered physically as well as academically from their father’s brutality, stressing that their grades at school were low.
Salah Al Ghamdi, the head of Social Protection in Jeddah, confirmed the facts and said that they would meet the father to hear his version before the case is referred to the relevant authorities.
Social authorities, doctors and activists have been pushing for years for appropriate formal action to protect children in Saudi Arabia from domestic violence and school bullying.
Their efforts recently received increased attention as the issue of child abuse came under the spotlight following repeated media reports about children subjected to horrific abuse often by members of their immediate families.
A social activist said that Saudi Arabia recorded 206 cases of violence against children. #“According to the figures, 60 per cent of the cases were abuses while 20 per cent were physical violence,” said Maha Al Muneef, the executive director of the National Family Safety Programme (NFSP). “The remaining 20 per cent were negligence and mental and psychological abuses.”
The 2012 case of a man who tortured his daughter to death sparked widespread outrage and triggered a huge debate over the extent of family privacy, a highly valued concept in conservative circles.
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