Social Workers: A Day in Their Shoes

Those of you who have been following my blogs know that I am no fan of the child protection / foster care / adopt system in Texas. That is a common feeling with most of the people who have shared their stories from other states. I have said on occasion that almost any way of doing things would be an improvement over what we experienced in going through the foster / adopt process with our five boys. I have to admit that I have encountered many very competent hard working people with the state and I have not intended to … Continue reading

Toddler Brutally Murdered by His Father

Two years ago, twenty-five year old Daniel Hernandez was arrested for brutally shaking his one month old son and severely injuring him. Since then, he had been free on bond. The agreement on which his freedom was based stipulated that he would not be with the boy. Now the child is dead and Hernandez is in jail once again. After the 2005 incident, the child lived with Hernandez’s aunt. The mother, twenty-one year old Jessica Ann Emhoolah, was required to go to counseling and take parenting skills classes. She did everything that the court asked her to do and this … Continue reading

Child Killer Executed in Texas

A man was executed tonight by the State of Texas for the 1998 murder of a three year old child. Carlos Granados was the ex-boyfriend of Katherine Jiminez. When her marriage to another man failed, he moved from New York to Texas to live with her. Sometime later, their relationship faltered She had told him to move out of the apartment that they shared. He did not want to leave and a brutal fight ensued. He stabbed her over 25 times with a large butcher knife. He also killed her three year old son with the same weapon. Relatives of … Continue reading

Legal System Fails Child in Horrible Abuse Case

The legal system has failed to protect a 15 month old girl, who had the misfortune to be born into an abusive home. State investigators were first in her home in late July in response to reports of injuries to her five year old brother. His most serious injury was a broken ankle. Authorities took no action because the child insisted that he had sustained the injury while skateboarding. On October 4, police were called to the hospital when his sister, A’Anya Cantley, was brought in by her mother’s boyfriend with second degree burns to her face and torso. The … Continue reading