| Topic: |
Sociology > Education |
| User: |
"fx" |
| Date: |
12 Nov 2007 08:22:52 PM |
| Object: |
Trial begins of Dorchester foster mom accused of killing boy, 4 |
Trial begins of Dorchester foster mom accused of killing boy, 4
November 6, 07 12:54 PM
By John Ellement, Globe Staff
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/11/trial_begins_of_2.html
After 10 days in a foster home in Dorchester, Dontel Jeffers, 4, arrived
at Caritas Carney Hospital on March 6, 2005, with bruises under his left
eye, adult scratch marks on his forehead, and ligature marks around his
wrists and one ankle from a telephone cord, a prosecutor said today
during opening statements in a second-degree murder trial in Suffolk
Superior Court.
The boy had bruises inside his throat consistent with someone trying to
cut off his breath and a ruptured intestine that was leaking human waste
into his abdomen, causing a treatable but extremely painful infection,
said David Deakin, a Suffolk assistant district attorney. After doctors
spent 45 minutes trying to revive him, Dontel was pronounced dead.
Deakin told the jury that Dontel's foster mother, Corinne N. Stephen,
was responsible for his death. Before moving into her home on Ballou
Avenue, Dontel was a healthy, smiling, energetic boy, he said.
"Ten days later, the defendant brought the bruised and apparently
lifeless body to the emergency department at the Carney Hospital,"
Deakin said.
In Stephen's trial on second-degree murder charges, Deakin told the jury
that he will not present evidence that Stephen beat Dontel or inflicted
his injuries. Instead, the prosecution will try to prove that she caused
his death by failing to obtain medical attention when his life was
clearly in jeopardy.
"She was the sole caretaker," Deakin said. "She allowed him to suffer
bruises. She called no one. Not a doctor. Not a hospital. Not 911. Not
anyone until it was far too late to save him."
Defense attorney John Palmer described Stephen in his opening statement
as a career foster mother who had taken care of other children. She had
a good reputation at Mentor Network Inc., the private child welfare
agency where she worked, he said. The graduate of Madison Park Technical
Vocational High School had attended nursing classes at Salem State
College and had been fully screened before being hired by the Mentor
Network.
Palmer urged the jury to "keep an open mind throughout this entire case"
and said she was not responsible for Dontel's injuries or his death.
Dontel had been cared for most of his life by his father, Elary Jeffers.
In October 2004, Elary Jeffers was deported to his native Caribbean
island, Nevis, after an outstanding immigration order surfaced when he
was charged with domestic violence against his girlfriend.
With Dontel's father gone, a judge awarded custody to his mother,
Christal Claiborne. Within months, Dontel was pulled from her home
because the state Department of Social Services alleged that she was
neglecting him and abusing drugs.
After a stay at a residential center for abused and neglected children,
Dontel was placed with Stephen in a foster home on Ballou Avenue in
Dorchester on Feb. 24, 2005. Ten days later, he was rushed to the
hospital, where he went into cardiac arrest and died.
CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....
CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.
every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com
Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS
*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*
Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5
Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that
are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per
100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse
and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the
citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold
parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY
government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and
death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more
human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which
they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that
they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when
children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a
bunch of social workers.
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...
BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...
.
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