7-year-old suspected of beating infant sister to death

[Liebling:-)))]

7-year-old suspected of beating infant sister to death

By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press writer

TAMPA, Fla. -- A 7-year-old boy beat his baby half-sister to death with his fists, feet and a two-by-four because he was jealous of the attention the girl was receiving and because she would not stop crying, police said yesterday.
The State Attorney's Office is deciding whether to file charges against the boy in an attack that rattled even veteran homicide detectives.
"The veteran detectives who worked on this case have never seen a case with someone as young as a 7-year-old show so much violence and so little remorse," Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.
The attack occurred May 22 in Tampa, where the boy had been visiting his father. The seven-month-old girl was dead on arrival at the hospital where her parents rushed her.
The boy confessed to killing his sister a week later when detectives confronted him with the evidence, McElroy said.
The unidentified boy was not taken into custody and is living with his mother while prosecutors make their decision on whether to charge him.
Police said the father and his girlfriend were outside visiting with neighbors when the boy came to them about midnight on the night of the attack and told them the baby was bleeding. They found the girl with a bloody nose and said she wasn't breathing.
Hillsborough County Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said prosecutors were just beginning to review the case and the complex legal issues involved with bringing charges against such a young child. Among the elements prosecutors will have to consider is whether a child so young is competent to stand trial for a crime, Bondi said.
"There are a lot of issues," Bondi said. "This is the first time we have dealt with a 7-year-old accused of such a violent crime."

This story appeared on Page A13 of The Standard-Times on June 2, 2005.


http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/06-05/06-02-05/a13wn147.htm

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Oh dear!

Don´t even blame 7 years old but his parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The children are jealous of their newborn siblings are normal but the parents should make the sure that their children should not left out when their baby siblings come. The children will love their siblings more if the parents let them to touch/hold/near/watch their newborn siblings etc.

 

[CrazyMomma]

Oh dear!! That boy watch too much violence movies or tv shows. He is jealous of his sister, cause he is not getting all the attentions from his father and his baby sister does get all the attentions. Oh boy. It's shame!

 

[Catmandu]

This is so depressing

 

[Gemtun]

Very very very very very depressing and sad

 

[deafclimber]

very sad ! my baby is going to be 7 this july. wow. i cant image how the kid at that age did...

 

[Oceanbreeze]

I really don't know what can be done with this child, but this 7 yr old is a serial killer in the making. This kid is gonna end up in the news 10-15 yrs from now. The kid has no soul.

 

[Eve]

Don´t even blame 7 years old but his parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're right, the parents should be blamed for raising such a MONSTER! This 7-year-old needs to be institutionalized immediately before more harm is done. They can't prosecute anyone under the age of 11, as they have no place to incarcerate such a young child. However, a mental institute would be able to accomodate his needs. Our society of bleeding hearts who don't want to handcuff 5-year-olds and who don't allow parents to discipline their children is responsible for producing these monsters, and soon we won't have enough prisons to house all of the ones coming up.

The children are jealous of their newborn siblings are normal

when my brother was born, i was extremely jealous and even stuck my tongue out at him...THAT is normal. beating a baby to death is NOT normal. i don't know what sick planet you are from where it is acceptable behavior for a child to bludgeon his infant sibling to death.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

You're right, the parents should be blamed for raising such a MONSTER! This 7-year-old needs to be institutionalized immediately before more harm is done. They can't prosecute anyone under the age of 11, as they have no place to incarcerate such a young child. However, a mental institute would be able to accomodate his needs. Our society of bleeding hearts who don't want to handcuff 5-year-olds and who don't allow parents to discipline their children is responsible for producing these monsters, and soon we won't have enough prisons to house all of the ones coming up.

when my brother was born, i was extremely jealous and even stuck my tongue out at him...THAT is normal. beating a baby to death is NOT normal. i don't know what sick planet you are from where it is acceptable behavior for a child to bludgeon his infant sibling to death.

I agree with you, Eve. You're right that the child is too young to be charged for the crime. But, I have a problem. I don't think our mental health system is equipped to deal with a child like this. So, what do we do with this kid?

The sad fact is this... He probably won't be put away for the rest of his life, which I believe has to happen. We can try to give him therapy, but is he rehabilitatable? In order for this child to be rehabilitated, he has to be able to show some remorse for the baby. And, it's my belief that some people; even children, aren't capable of it. So, my question is...WHAT exactly do we do with these children, who are, monsters?

 

[Vance]

who don't allow parents to discipline their children is responsible for producing these monsters

And yet, whoever did discipline their children is still producing these monsters. The history of 'cycle of violence' proved itself countless times in the past and present. In some extreme cases, discipline or not, it does not make any difference. Many parents don't know how to or unable to control themselves during disciplining their children which leads to bruises, broken bones, etc. I think it is time for us to look beyond the issue whether lack or not of discipline in their childhood times and find out what made them 'tick'.

Just a "Devil's Advocate" thought.

 

[CODAchild]

What a tragedy!!

Didn't these parent's realize that this little boy has been the only child for 7 years, and now there is another baby in the family. He had to have been so jealous to do what he did to his baby sister!

There are so many older brother/sister programs at area birthing hospitals so this little boy could have been more involved in his sister's life rather than be left out. If that is why he did it.

He definitely is going to need help, because he is going to live with this for the rest of his life!! What a cross he will have to carry for the rest of his life.

I hope this little boy gets help, instead of charging him as an adult.

I wonder if the parent's even bothered to explain to this little boy that there was going to be another baby in the family, or even if this boy has a present disorder, was there anything done for this little boy.

There has to be so much wonder why and what was going through this little boy's mind to do such a horrible thing to his baby sister.

How sad!!

 

[Oceanbreeze]

And yet, whoever did discipline their children is still producing these monsters. The history of 'cycle of violence' proved itself countless times in the past and present. In some extreme cases, discipline or not, it does not make any difference. Many parents don't know how to or unable to control themselves during disciplining their children. I think it is time for us to look beyond the issue whether lack or not of discipline in their childhood times.

Just a "Devil's Advocate" thought.

I agree with this. We may never know what made this child capable of doing something this horrible, but I really don't think discipline or a lack thereof, caused this. I really believe this child is evil, and if we don't do something, and take this kid out of society, he will kill again.

The issue for me isn't whether this kid can be rehabilitated, because in my mind, he can't be. What I'm concerned about is what is going to be done to ensure that this kid won't hurt someone else down the line? You can only rehabilitate people who have a soul and are capable of empathy, and I don't think that applies to this child.

 

[Vance]

But, I have a problem. I don't think our mental health system is equipped to deal with a child like this. So, what do we do with this kid?
...
So, my question is...WHAT exactly do we do with these children, who are, monsters?

That's a good question. We have to be prepare to face the reality someday when the problem is getting bigger. I wouldn't be surprised if someday some insane congressperson will propose a death penalty to solve this problem.

I agree with this. We may never know what made this child capable of doing something this horrible, but I really don't think discipline or a lack thereof, caused this. I really believe this child is evil, and if we don't do something, and take this kid out of society, he will kill again.

The issue for me isn't whether this kid can be rehabilitated, because in my mind, he can't be. What I'm concerned about is what is going to be done to ensure that this kid won't hurt someone else down the line? You can only rehabilitate people who have a soul and are capable of empathy, and I don't think that applies to this child.

I agree with you. Like you just wondered above, what do we do with these children?

Maybe we need to establish the special treatment program for these underage kids? Or get Mental Health System prepped for these kids? Or once again, let the governments intervent our lives and our rights by drugging our children to 'zombie'-like with or without our parental approvals?

 

[Oceanbreeze]

That's a good question. We have to be prepare to face the reality someday when the problem is getting bigger. I wouldn't be surprised if some insane congressperson proposes a death penalty to solve this problem.

I agree with you. Like you just wondered above, what do we do with these children?

Maybe we need to establish the special treatment program for these underage kids? Or get Mental Health System prepped for these kids? Or once again, let the governments intervent our lives and our rights by drugging our children to 'zombie'-like with or without our approvals?

Or, I don't know...Use the death penalty? I don't know, Magatsu. That's my problem with all of this. I just don't know. But, the authorities are going to have to do something with this kid, and the solution will have to be permanent. You can't just lock this kid up until he's twenty-one, and then, cut him loose on society hoping you've rehabilitated him. By then, he will have had 14 yrs to think. To plan. And, to figure out what to do next.

I don't know. Maybe, I'm wrong, and the kid is young enough to be helped? But, we won't know that until more time has passed. Do we want to risk it? I don't know if I want to. As you know, I've got a niece and a nephew ages 3.5 and (almost) five. I really am fearful for them, because, we just don't know what people they will encounter in fifteen or twenty years. This is a sick world we live in.

 

[diehardbiker]

Wow! this reminds me of Eric Smith who killed Derrick about 15 years ago! That time Eric Smith was 8 yrs old, and Derrick was 4 yrs old, in Bath, NY. Blaming on parents? Not so fast! It could be anything, that is causing this to happen.l This includes school peer pressure, for who knows. Back to Eric Smith, what I learn about this boy and what caused him to kill Derrick. It was pressure from bullies at school that Eric Smith had endured. Nobody did anything about bullies against Eric Smith, and that now Eric smith was sent to jail for life. Whose fault is it?

 

[rjr2006]

that is very depressing!

 

[Missus_Philos0phyK]

thats why people should be watching these tv shows that parent that cannot control their kids.. 2 shows "The Super NANNY" and "Nanny 911" parent MUST watch themselves to control their kids and gives a lot of affections.. THATS A MUST.. i watched it every since and now but i dont have kids tho. and i do like that show, too..

 

[Eve]

The history of 'cycle of violence' proved itself countless times in the past and present.

there is a huge difference between abuse and discipline.

He had to have been so jealous to do what he did to his baby sister!

this goes far beyond the point of jealousy, this kid had problems before the baby ever came into the picture. A child doesn’t just go from normal to murder over night.

He definitely is going to need help, because he is going to live with this for the rest of his life!! What a cross he will have to carry for the rest of his life.

if he has no remorse, what kind of a cross is that to bear?

I agree with this. We may never know what made this child capable of doing something this horrible, but I really don't think discipline or a lack thereof, caused this. I really believe this child is evil, and if we don't do something, and take this kid out of society, he will kill again.

I am a firm believer in environmental factors. This child may well be able to be rehabilitated in the proper environment. My stepson was six years old when he threw my 5-year-old daughter down the stairs, physically assaulted me while I was pregnant, and attempted to rape my daughter. His behavior was not an overnight occurrence, rather he was this way from the time he was 2-years-old according to those who have known him. Since that time he has received therapy, medicinal treatment, and a more stable and structured environment than his mother is capable of providing him, and is now what I perceive to be “rehabilitated”. I can not even imagine him reverting to his old ways now.

Unfortunately, unless he is removed from the environment that produced him and has encouraged his behavior to advance to this stage, he will only become worse in the future. In that case, all we can do is count the days to his 11th birthday when he can be incarcerated. And then, again until his 18th birthday when he ages out of the juvenile system and advances to real time.

Or once again, let the governments intervent our lives and our rights by drugging our children to 'zombie'-like with or without our parental approvals?

Some children NEED to be medicated and if the parents aren’t going to get them treatment then the government SHOULD intervene in order to protect the society at large.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Wow! this reminds me of Eric Smith who killed Derrick about 15 years ago! That time Eric Smith was 8 yrs old, and Derrick was 4 yrs old, in Bath, NY. Blaming on parents? Not so fast! It could be anything, that is causing this to happen.l This includes school peer pressure, for who knows. Back to Eric Smith, what I learn about this boy and what caused him to kill Derrick. It was pressure from bullies at school that Eric Smith had endured. Nobody did anything about bullies against Eric Smith, and that now Eric smith was sent to jail for life. Whose fault is it?

Your post got me interesting so I searched to find out about Eric Smith's history.

http://www.karisable.com/youngmurder.htm

You can see Eric's on the top list of children murder. I saw many children murders on the list. 2 10 years old British boys named Robert Thompson & Jon Venables who murdered 2 years old James Bulger and British Mary Bell, too.

You should read their horror stories.... I notice most from their histories where their social and family background comes from. Their are not happy one.

I feel very sad after read Eric's history. I'm disagree with law system because they should send him to rehab./therapies instead of go to jail. The jail got him physical soul!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Liebling:-)))]

when my brother was born, i was extremely jealous and even stuck my tongue out at him...THAT is normal. beating a baby to death is NOT normal. i don't know what sick planet you are from where it is acceptable behavior for a child to bludgeon his infant sibling to death.

Yes, you are right that it's not normal for 7 years old to beat his baby sister to death. It look like that his parents did not pay the attention on his behavior before his baby sister arrive?

It is terrible that 7 years old didn't know that he is "murder". I beleive he need a help instead of being treat as crime.

This is a very very very depressing situation.