Police: Lenox man slammed child’s head into concre

[lilbump1980]

You are welcome swimmy. Yes the od doesn't report everything. I am not sure if it is because it is in madison county or what. but the oneida newspaper and syracuse news stations are talking about it. It is so sad.. YEs thelma he should be facing attempted murder and based on what I read his mom should also be in trouble (holly i believe it said her name was) Looks like Madison County DSS may be in trouble too. Rumor has it they were told what was going on...... Very Sad

[Swimmy]

In the DSS's defense, it is sometimes hard to act on reports. In Michigan, Ricky Holland was killed by his mother. She took a hammer to his head because he soiled his pants and wouldn't stop crying. It was a disgusting case and she's serving a life sentence. Anyway, the DSS there received reports about abuse there as well. But under their procedures, as was explained in my evidence class, they have to make an announced visit (4th amendment rights). This serves as a disadvantage to the DSS and the alleged abused children because the parents or guardians or whomever has time to clean everything up and cover up anything that might be suspicious. And there, the DSS has to witness on their own some kind of act or environment that endangers the children. So when they did stop by and saw everything was ok, they did not have much more they could do. There was a push to reform the DSS to give it more teeth to better investigate child abuse reports.

I don't know how NY DSS branches operate, but if it is anyway similar to how MI's operate, I can't say I'm surprised. It's sad and unfortunate, but not surprising.

[bobbbiez]

Reading swimmy and lilbump post it seems that we not only need harsher punishment for the abusers, but the DSS needs to get together with our lawmakers and get some things revised in their department also. I for one am sick of hearing after a child's injuries or death that the DSS hands were tied . Then I suggest since they know all this is going on then they are the ones that can really push the issue with our legislators to get laws changed to protect the little ones that need protecting and can't protect themselves. Just tried of hearing excuses after the child is killed when many knew the abuse was taking place.

[Swimmy]

Agreed! :-)

[thelma]

Years ago, my youngest daughter was involved with a man who ended up abusing her. At the time, she had 3 small children. Every time they would have an argument, someone in his family would call the Child Abuse Hotline and make the allegation that the children were living in a dirty house with no food in the house!

Within 24 hours, a young caseworker would arrive at my daughter's house (unanounced). She could see very clearly that none of the children were abused and none even had any bruises on them. My daughter would open up her pantry and freezer to show there was plenty of food in the house. Caseworker would document her report and leave.

This went on at least 4 other times. Every time she would have an argument with this boyfriend, she would sit back and wait for Social Services Caseworker to show up.

Finally, this all came to a climax when she finally called the Police and the boyfriend was arrested and sent to jail awaiting disposition of the Assault charge she placed against him.

Since the youngest child was just a baby and had been born prematurely, she was suffering from a cold. To make sure it didn't develop into pnemonia, my daughter took her the Doctor the next day for a checkup.

While she was gone, I was babysitting the other two children. Sure enough, the caseworker from the Child Abuse section was knocking on the door. She was aware that the boyfriend had been arrested for Assault and made the statement "I can take these children away from their Mother for exposing these children to domestic violence".

This was like waving a red flag in front of me!!!! I told her "This is nothing more than legal harassment on your part. You have been here countless times and never once have you found these children in any danger. I would like to see you or any Judge try and take these girls away from their Mother as I'll hire the best lawyer possible and fight you every inch of the way".

She left and never returned again!!!!!! The boyfriend got a year in County Jail and the relationship ended.

So, NYS Child Abuse DOES have the means and authority to remove children from their home if there is evidence the child could be in harm's way. This is what the Court system should have been done for poor little Aaron.

[bobbbiez]

Thelma, I can't see where their means or authority is strong enough since we have far too many babies being killed or permanently damaged for life.

No matter what the excuses or reasons they give I feel the SS department shoud be reviewed to give more protection to our children, especially the very little ones, who can't voice what is going on in their homes.

Your daughter was one of the fortunate ones who could prove no such abuse was taking place but there is plenty of abuse that is slipping under the system that is there to protect those children that are being abused.

[Swimmy]

Either those children don't have a voice, or they're too scared or intimidated by threats of future abuse if they do voice their side of the story.

[thelma]

I have no problems with having Child Abuse investigators come to the home to investigate ANY complaint of child abuse. In fact, it is very easy to report any case you even suspect where a child is being neglected or abused as you don't have to give your name or any other means of identifying yourself. If one case out of 100 phone calls finds actual child abuse going on, these investigators have done their jobs.

Most of the time, if a child is being neglected or abused, it is pretty easy to see just by looking at them. A neglected child is usually dirty, skinny from lack of food, and very timid. An abused child usually has bruises or other marks on their body.

Most of the time when we hear stories involving cases like Aaron, the Child Abuse authorities did NOT investigate the complaint and didn't do the job they were suppose to.

[bobbbiez]

Yes Thelma, many of the cases that are reported are not investigated properly or quickly enough. Being a foster parent for many years I have heard some horror stories. I asked one of my foster children, who I eventually adopted, why he didn't say anything to anyone and his answer was a mixture of things from being afraid, to no one was believing him anyways when he did say something and the fear of being put in a foster home away from all his brothers and sisters.

Well eventually someone did believe him and an investigation was held. He and his siblings were placed in foster homes but in the period of time it took for them to investigate, and act, something terrible could have happened to him and his siblings. They were the fortunate ones. Many are not that fortunate. Reading the paper and hearing the news child abuse is on a very alarming rise.

[frankcor]

Some species eat their young. Man can do worse.

[Swimmy]

Yes, thelma. You are right in that it's easy to have DSS investigate an abuse report. I see it all the time in the messy divorces. The spouses call on the other while the children are there. Most times the calls are bogus and just to harass the other spouse. It's wrong and sad because then DSS wastes its resources thatcould be better spent on actual cases.

[Ralph]

While I have no problem with the investigators coming around, they aren't all that and a bag of chips and often make the wrong decisions on things when they don't care or want to know the whole story.

Being on the receiving end of one of their witch hunts I can attest to that fact.

[thelma]

ralph said:

While I have no problem with the investigators coming around, they aren't all that and a bag of chips and often make the wrong decisions on things when they don't care or want to know the whole story.

Being on the receiving end of one of their witch hunts I can attest to that fact.

........................................

It is nice to know that someone else besides my daughter has been on the receiving end of a "witch hunt".

What gets me is when the Child Abuse Dept. sends out these recently college graduates with a degree in Social Work that are only 22 years old, single and never had to raise a child of their own. All they know about raising children is what they have read out of a book.

Someone needs to tell them that there has never been a book written that tells anyone how to raise a child - each one is different and requires different methods of discipline, rewards, ETC.

[denise]

I've always said that I'd rather be alone than be with someone stupid. I guess that really is the tip of the iceberg. What was so delightful about this young man (ape) that kept the mother of Aadon in a relationship where there was a "history of domestic violence"? I think it is awful that this child has to suffer for his mother's bad decisions.

[thelma]

Denise - IMO, there are too many women today that have their priorities mixed up. They are putting their own wants and needs BEFORE those of their chldren.

Not me; I always lived my life where my children's needs came first (and still do). I always believed that your children will remain beside you for the rest of your life where men can come and go and are easily replaceable (if you want them to be!).

I never regretted making this decision over 50 years ago as time has proven I made the right decision.