Child Abuse: A New Case and Two Updates

by Fatherofeight | More from this Blogger

06 Jan 2007 12:58 PM

Fifty miles north of Houston, a 26 year old father has been arrested for causing very serious injuries to his four month old twins. The children had been separately taken to the hospital, both with hemorrhaging in their brains and eyes. On December 23, the female twin was brought to an area hospital by her mother. Later in the day, the father came to the same hospital with the twin brother.

The parents do not live together. Police investigators believe that the assaults took place in the father's home. Apparently, there is undisclosed evidence that the father injured the babies.

On December 28, Child Protective Services was contacted because medical personnel had determined that the injuries were not accidental. It would have been very unusual for both children to receive identical injuries from the same incident. Medical reports indicate that the babies had been violently shaken.

There is the equivalent of a nursing home in Houston, where all of the patients are children who have been victimized the way that these children were. When will this type of behavior be stopped?

Two previously reported child abuse stories have updated information. The lady who birthed a nine pound boy, who was found dead in a dumpster, has now been arrested. Autopsy results, that would show whether the child was alive at birth, have still not been released. She is being held on lesser charges, pending the determination as to whether the child's death was a homicide.

These additional facts are known. That evening, the 22 year old woman locked herself in a bathroom for over an hour. She emerged carrying a paper bag that seemed to be loaded with something and left her apartment. Soon thereafter, paramedics were called because she was experiencing serious bleeding. On examining her, it was apparent that she had just given birth.

The woman would not cooperate with the investigation, so a search was begun. The dead baby was found in the paper bag in the dumpster. She was certainly acting as if she had murdered the child.

An update is also available for the Dallas case in which a two year old was stabbed to death by a nine year old resident of the house that her mother had left her in to be cared for while the mother went to work. A judge has ordered that five young children, who had been living in the home, remain in foster care. The children's mother, Detress Richmond, was not present at the hearing. Richmond's home had been inspected many times for reported child neglect and abuse.

We are living in a society that can not protect its children. Many of us are caring for children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. In Texas, the legislature has heard our outrage and is making it possible for many more investigators to be hired for child abuse cases. It is a good start.

Related Blogs:

The Child Protection System is in Trouble

A Child's Life in the Ghetto

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rsbg (501) 06 Jan 2007 03:50 PM

There needs to be a ton more investigators hired and a ton more punishment to those that do this to these kids. Unfortunately, this is getting worse and worse and something/someone has to stop it!!!! It just enfuriates me to see this happening over and over again. These children are our future, they deserve so much more than this!!!!!

Linda Hansen (1796) 06 Jan 2007 07:37 PM

I heard all the cases except the nursing home type shelter one on the news. It never gets acceptable to hear, only harder to understand. Art

Fatherofeight (2475) 06 Jan 2007 08:37 PM

rsbg, I saw the numbers that they were going to add, I can't find it now but I think they are increasing it 4 fold.

Art, the other place was not in the news. The lady that taught us CPR when we were getting licensed told us about it. She had taught CPR to the people that work there, as I remember.

Pam Connell (2658) 08 Jan 2007 12:39 AM

I'm so glad at least one state is hiring more child protection workers. Keep up the good work Ed! -Pam

Melissa J (13710) 08 Jan 2007 01:07 AM

It's hard to think of such things happening. grrr...

Fatherofeight (2475) 08 Jan 2007 04:33 AM

I have heard that it is really hard to have to investigate these cases day in and day out. If society will not change then enforcement must be stepped up.

PATTI (580) 08 Jan 2007 08:46 AM

Dear Ed, Keep up the good work. Your writing is inspiring me and I am sure others to find ways to help children. PATTI

Fatherofeight (2475) 08 Jan 2007 10:28 AM

That is reassuring because that is my motivation for reporting these awful abuse cases. thanks.